April 17 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday, on track to add gains for four straight weeks on Washington's plan to gradually reopen the country's economy, while reports of a potential drug to treat COVID-19 added to the bounce.
* At 9:57 a.m. ET (1357 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 323.26 points, or 2.33%, at 14,222.58.
* U.S. President Donald Trump outlined a plan to ease the U.S. shutdown in a staggered, three-stage process, also helped lift the mood. Reports say that patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms had responded positively to a drug made by U.S. company Gilead Sciences GILD.O . The news helped investors brush off a widely expected slump in Chinese GDP data. Ten of the index's 11 major sectors were higher, with only the materials sector .GSPTTMT losing 1.2%.
* Prices of gold slipped on Friday, pressured by the pickup in stock markets globally.
* Oil prices remained mixed with U.S. crude CLc1 off 8.9% a barrel and Brent LCOc1 adding 1.6% but energy sector .SPTTEN climbed 4.3%. O/R
* Canadian equities have somewhat reclaimed lost ground on central bank and government stimulus, but have fallen over 21% since hitting an all-time high in mid-February.
* The financials sector .SPTTFS gained 3.5%. The industrials sector .GSPTTIN rose 2.1%.
* On the TSX, 198 issues were higher, while 30 issues declined for a 6.60-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 48.64 million shares traded.
* The Stars Group TSGI.TO jumped 15.5% to the top of TSX, after the betting firm forecast upbeat first-quarter revenue as it saw increased customer activity across online poker and casino product offerings largely beginning in March. Gold miners led losses on the TSX with shares in Alacer Gold Corp ASR.TO off 6.9% and Alamos Gold AGI.TO , down 4.9%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were those of Bombardier BBDb.TO and Crescent Point CPG.TO .
* The TSX posted three new 52-week highs and no new low.
* Across all Canadian issues there were six new 52-week highs and two new lows, with total volume of 78.52 million shares.