Oct 20 (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index rose in line with gains on Wall Street on Tuesday, as optimism that Washington lawmakers agreed on a US stimulus package ahead of the presidential election fueled weakness in energy stocks offset by lower crude oil prices.
* As of 9:37 am ET (1337 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 25.44 points, or 0.16%, to 16,299.51.
* The energy sector fell 0.2% as US crude prices fell 1% per barrel, while Brent crude fell 0.8%.
* The biggest percentage gainer on the TSX was lumber supplier Interfor Corporation, which rose 5.5% after TD Securities upgraded its stock rating, followed by Ero Copper Corp, which rose 4.9%.
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, gained 0.8% even as gold futures fell 0.4% to $1,899 an ounce.
* On the TSX, 141 issues were higher while 76 issues were down, a 1.86 to 1 ratio in favor of winners, with 10.34 million shares changing hands.
* Cannabis stocks Aurora Cannabis Inc and Canopy Growth Co posted the largest losses, down 5.8% and 4.0%, respectively.
* The top traded stocks by volume were Royal Bank of Canada, Valeura Energy Inc and New Millennium Iron Corp.
* The TSX posted a new 52-week high and no new lows.
* All Canadian issues made six new 52-week highs and two new lows for a total volume of 19.32 million shares. (Reporting by Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
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