TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index pushed up to its highest level in a week yesterday as gold miners got boost from record bullion prices, which soared on a flight to safety on fears over euro zone debt contagion.

Gold prices spiked to above $1,230 an ounce, as economic uncertainties over European sovereign debt levels and the $1 trillion rescue package prompted investors to seek safety in the precious metal The TSX materials group was up 2.2 percent as major gold producers pushed sharply higher. Goldcorp jumped 5.9 percent to C$47.21, while Barrick Gold gained 4.3 percent to C$46.87. Yamana Gold rose 6.5 percent to C$11.68, and Kinross Gold added 7.3 percent to C$19.16.

"The standout performers are gold stocks. Gold seems to be following the playbook in terms of its increasingly being perceived as a safe haven from all this turmoil that is out there," said Elvis Picardo, analyst and strategist at Global Securities in Vancouver.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index finished up 52.71 points, or 0.44 percent, at 12,000.61, with seven of its 10 main groups higher. Earlier, it rose as high as 12,093.51, its highest level since May 4.

The move higher adds to the two percent gains notched on Monday.

"We've seen a great deal of volatility over the past five or six days. The encouraging thing with the TSX is that it's staying above the 12,000 level.

"It's hanging on to its robust gains from yesterday," said Mr. Picardo.

Energy shares sank 0.6 percent as US crude settled lower, in volatile action, at $76.37 a barrel, as traders remained cautious about the European rescue package and the outlook for the global economic recovery.

Suncor Energy fell 2.1 percent to C$31.94 and Canadian Natural Resources sank 1.2 percent to C$73.11.