(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Monday as signs of progress in developing a COVID-19 vaccine renewed hopes for a post-pandemic economic rebound.
* At 9:50 a.m. ET (1350 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (GSPTSE) was up 122.42 points, or 0.75%, at 16,344.88.
* Canada is signaling it might not compensate major telecommunications providers, if the federal government bans equipment made by China's Huawei from 5G networks, setting up a potential fight over a bill that could hit C$1 billion ($758 million).
* The financials (SPTTFS) and the industrials sectors (GSPTTIN) gained 0.6% and 0.9%, respectively.
* The materials sector (GSPTTMT), which includes precious and base metal miners and fertilizer companies, added 1.6% as gold futures
* The energy sector (SPTTEN), however, dropped 1.5% as U.S. crude (CLc1) prices were down 0.9% a barrel, while Brent crude (LCOc1) lost 1.0%.
* On the TSX, 182 issues gained, while 36 declined for a 5.06-to-1 ratio favoring gainers, with 19.97 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Torex Gold Resources (TO:TXG), which jumped 8.6%, and Dundee Precious Metals (TO:DPM) that rose 6.9%.
* Cineplex (TO:CGX) fell 4.3%, the most on the TSX, followed by Enerplus Corp (TO:ERF) that lost 3.6%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Suncor Energy (TO:SU), Les Ressources Yorbeau Inc (TO:YRB) and B2Gold Corp (TO:BTO).
* The TSX posted four new 52-week highs and no new low.
* Across Canadian issues there were 16 new 52-week highs and six new lows, with total volume of 39.98 million shares traded.
