(Adds details, updates prices)
* TSX up 67.95 points, or 0.51 percent, to 13,468.26
* Seven of the TSX's 10 main groups rise
TORONTO, March 16 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose
on Wednesday as energy companies gained along with oil prices
and investors awaited a Federal Reserve policy decision later in
the session.
The most influential gainers on the index included Suncor
Energy Inc SU.TO , which advanced 1.4 percent to C$36.25, and
Canadian Natural Resources CNQ.TO , up 1.6 percent to C$35.76.
Oil prices LCOc1 CLc1 jumped 3 percent on news producers
will meet next month to discuss a proposal to freeze output and
on growing signs of a decline in U.S. crude production. O/R
The overall energy group climbed 1.3 percent. Encana Corp
ECA.TO gained 4.8 percent to C$7.63 after rating agency Fitch
assigned the company a first-time rating of BBB- on Tuesday with
a negative outlook. 10:25 a.m. EDT (1425 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's
S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 67.95 points, or 0.51
percent, to 13,468.26.
Seven of the index's 10 main groups were in positive
territory, with more than three advancers for every decliner.
While the U.S. central bank is expected to leave interest
rates unchanged in a statement at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT),
investors will keep a close eye on its commentary soon
afterwards for clues on the path of future rate hikes.
The financials group gained 0.4 percent and industrials rose
0.3 percent. The materials group, which includes precious and
base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.1 percent.
Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO declined 1.4 percent to C$18.72
and Kinross Gold Corp K.TO fell 2 percent to C$3.88.
Canadian manufacturing sales rose far more than expected at
the start of the year, driven by a jump in sales of motor
vehicles, auto parts and food, data from Statistics Canada
showed on Wednesday. ECONCA