Oct 19 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday after data showed annual inflation rate dipped as price pressures from gas and air travel eased.
* At 9:48 a.m. ET (1348 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 109.72 points, or 0.71 percent, at 15,513.85.
* Statistics Canada said the annual inflation rate in September fell to 2.2 percent from 2.8 percent as price pressures from gas and air travel eased. Investors, however, expect the central bank to raise interest rates again next week.
* "We always knew we were going to see headline CPI inflation trend back down towards 2 percent ... the hike next week is going to happen," said Andrew Kelvin, senior rates strategist at TD Securities.
* The financials sector .SPTTFS gained 0.5 percent.
* The main index .GSPTSE was on track to end the week higher after three consecutive weeks of declines.
* Also, the sentiment was boosted by the energy sector .SPTTEN , which rose 1.1 percent as oil prices moved up on signs of surging demand in China, the world's second-biggest oil consumer. O/R
* U.S. crude CLc1 prices were up 0.9 percent, while Brent crude LCOc1 added 1.3 percent.
* The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners, added 1 percent, as copper and nickel prices rose after regulators in China pledged support for firms with liquidity issues, brought on by months of slowing growth. MET/L
* On the TSX, 215 issues were higher, while 27 issues declined for a 7.96-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with volume touching 22.40 million shares.
* Top percentage gainers on the TSX were shares of Badger Daylighting BAD.TO , which jumped 4.6 percent, followed by shares of Detour Gold DGC.TO , which rose 3.9 percent.
* Lucara Diamond LUC.TO fell 1.9 percent, the most on the TSX, followed by shares of Rogers Communications RCIb.TO , down 1.8 percent.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO , Aphria Inc APH.TO and Royal Nickel RNX.TO .
* The TSX posted one new 52-week high and four new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were three new 52-week highs and 14 new lows, with total volume touching 35.06 million shares.