March 12 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index closed slightly higher on Monday as gold producers overcame earlier declines and helped offset energy shares that were dragged lower by the price of oil.
* The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended up 26.98 points, or 0.17 percent, at 15,604.79.
* The healthcare sector .GSPTTHC also helped support the market, rising 2.3 percent. Cannabis producer Canopy Growth WEED.TO was among the most actively traded shares, jumping 5.0 percent to C$32.49.
* Barrick Gold ABX.TO was among the biggest gains on the index, up 3.0 percent at C$15.59 after RBC raised its rating on the stock to "outperform." The gold subsector SPTTGD as a whole rose 1.1 percent.
* But losses in the energy sector .SPTTEN kept a cap on Toronto markets as the group slipped 0.4 percent. Canadian Natural Resources CNQ.TO fell 0.7 percent to C$38.63.
* U.S. crude CLc1 prices settled down 68 cents at $61.36 a barrel on expectations that U.S. output will rise this year. O/R
* Shares of Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO fell 1.1 percent to C$3.71 after one of its Q400 planes crashed in Nepal. The TSX posted six new 52-week highs and three new lows. Volume on the TSX index was 152.23 million shares.