March 14 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was little changed on Wednesday as gains among banks and shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE:VRX) VRX.TO were offset by declines in the energy sector.
* The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE finished up 6.47 points, or 0.04 percent, at 15,653.61.
* Shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals VRX.TO VRX.N jumped 5.4 percent to C$21.98 after Health Canada approved its drug for plaque psoriasis. The financials group .SPTTFS , which accounts for about a third of the index gained 0.1 percent. Among the gainers, Bank of Nova Scotia BNS.TO rose 0.7 percent to C$81.88, while Bank of Montreal BMO.TO edged up 0.3 percent at C$98.36.
* But a 0.3 percent retreat in the energy sector .SPTTEN sector dampened the overall market. Suncor Energy Inc SU.TO was one of the biggest drags on the index, down 0.3 percent at C$42.16 after the company said its Syncrude oil sands project in northern Alberta would run at reduced rates in the first quarter due to maintenance. Elsewhere, Teck Resources TECKb.TO rose 1.5 percent to C$35.49 after India's Steel Minister said state-owned Steel Authority of India SAIL.NS was in talks with Teck for long-term purchase agreements. The TSX posted seven new 52-week highs and five new lows. Volume on the TSX index was 167.11 million shares.