Dec 13 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, led by gains in consumer staples shares amid signs of progress in trade relations between the United States and China.
* Eight of the 11 major Canadian sectors were trading higher, with the consumer staples sector .GSPTTCS , up 0.85 percent, leading the gains.
* Empire Co Ltd EMPa.TO rose 6.9 percent, the most on the sector, after the company reported second-quarter results that topped analysts' expectations.
* The material sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, rose 0.2 percent as copper hit its highest in more than a week. MET/L
* At 9:48 a.m. ET (1448 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 61.04 points, or 0.41 percent, at 14,844.1.
* On the TSX, 151 issues were higher, while 84 issues declined for a 1.80-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 24.67 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was AltaGas Ltd ALA.TO , which jumped 14.2 percent after the company said it would sell its indirect stake in hydroelectric projects in Northwest British Columbia for about C$1.39 billion ($1.04 billion). The energy sector .SPTTEN dropped 0.4 percent as U.S. crude CLc1 prices were down 0.8 percent a barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 lost 0.5 percent. O/R .
* Aphria Inc APHA.TO fell 6 percent, the most on the TSX, and the second-biggest decliner was Alamos Gold Inc AGI.TO , down 4.6 percent.
* Among the most actively traded shares were cannabis producers Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO and Aphria Inc APHA.TO .
* The TSX posted three new 52-week highs and eight new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were six new 52-week highs and 31 new lows, with total volume of 36.54 million shares.