Aug 24 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index gained on Friday after a rise in gold prices lifted shares of precious metal miners and higher oil drove gains in energy shares.
* Gold prices rose as the U.S. dollar came under pressure. GOL/
* Eight of the index's 11 major sectors were higher, led by the material sector's .GSPTTMT 1.2 percent rise.
* The energy sector .SPTTEN climbed 0.9 percent as U.S. crude CLc1 prices were up 1.7 percent per barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 added 1.6 percent. O/R
* At 9:44 a.m. ET (13:44 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 27.9 points, or 0.17 percent, at 16,354.69.
* Enbridge ENB.TO fell 1.8 percent, and was the biggest drag after the country's largest pipeline operator said it would buy its U.S. master limited partnership Spectra Energy (F:SEP) Partners SEP.N for a sweetened $3.3 billion deal. Marijuana stocks gained after a Bloomberg report that U.K. alcohol giant Diageo DGE.L is holding serious discussions with at least three major cannabis producers as it seeks to add marijuana-infused beverages to its portfolio of global brands.
* Aphria APH.TO rose 5.4 percent, the most on the main index, while Canopy Growth WEED.TO and Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO gained about 2 percent each.
* MAG Silver Corp MAG.TO gained 4 percent and was the second-biggest percentage gainer on the TSX.
* On the TSX, 142 issues were higher, while 96 issues declined for a 1.48-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 21.62 million shares traded.
* Parkland Fuel PKI.TO fell 2.5 percent, the most on the TSX, and the second-biggest decliner was Corus Entertainment CJRb.TO , which was down 2 percent.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were those of Aurora Cannabis, Red Eagle Mining R.TO and Aphria.
* The TSX posted four new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were eight new 52-week highs and three new lows, with total volume of 32.36 million shares.