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Energy shares rebound in Toronto

TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto stocks rose strongly as energy issues rebounded from two days of weakness, while investors tried to set aside worries about growth and inflation following Tuesday's US rate cut.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index rose 101.64, or 0.7 percent, to close at 13,940.07. For the week, the market rose 0.7 percent.

Energy shares, hammered in the past couple of sessions following an Alberta government panel's recommendation to increase oil and gas royalties, climbed 1.3 percent, even as oil prices came off the record levels hit on Thursday.

"I think people are saying that this Alberta thing isn't law yet and these stocks have been beaten up pretty badly," said John Kinsey, portfolio manager at Caldwell Securities in Toronto.

Canadian Natural Resources rose C$1.64, or 2.2 percent, to C$76.84, while Suncor Energy climbed C$1.76, or 1.9 percent, to C$96.

All told, eight of the TSX's 10 main subgroups rose, with strength also evident in the consumer discretionary and consumer staples sectors, which each climbed 1.3 percent.

The US Federal Reserve's 50 basis point rate cut earlier in the week boosted stocks, but analysts said it also suggested the Fed was much more worried about the US subprime mortgage market and tight liquidity than previously thought.

The move also sparked worries that that inflation could rear its ugly head, which prompted selling over the past couple of sessions.

But investors may have overreacted in their caution, analysts said.

"Our view is that the fundamentals are still reasonably positive and the Fed is going to supply liquidity to the system," said Irwin Michael, portfolio manager at ABC Funds.

He said sluggish end-of-week trading volumes and portfolio adjustment ahead of the end of the fiscal quarter were also playing a role.