(New throughout, updates prices)
* TSX up 36.85 points, or 0.27 percent, to 13,618.27
* Seven of the TSX's 10 main groups were higher
TORONTO, April 13 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose
on Wednesday to a near four-week high, led by financial and
industrial stocks as surprisingly upbeat trade data from China
supported sentiment.
The most influential movers on the index included Royal Bank
of Canada RY.TO , which rose 0.7 percent to C$76.28, and Bank
of Nova Scotia BNS.TO , which advanced 1.1 percent to C$63.21.
The financials group gained 0.7 percent, while industrials
rose 1.1 percent and consumer discretionary stocks were up 0.8
percent.
China's exports in March returned to growth for the first
time in nine months, adding to further signs of stabilization in
the world's second-largest economy that cheered global
investors.
At 9:52 a.m. EDT (1352 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's
S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE rose 36.85 points, or 0.27
percent, to 13,618.27. Seven of the index's 10 main groups were
higher.
The energy group retreated 0.3 percent as oil prices pared
some recent gains.
U.S. crude CLc1 prices were down 1.8 percent to $41.42 a
barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 lost 1.3 percent to
$44.13. O/R
The materials group, which includes precious and base metals
miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.2 percent.
Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO fell 2.1 percent to C$20.44 as
spot gold XAU= fell 0.8 percent.