TORONTO, March 5 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index turned slightly positive on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to suggest that Canada and Mexico could win exemptions to his planned sweeping tariffs on aluminum and steel imports if the two countries sign a new NAFTA trade deal.
* The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was eight points, or 0.05 percent, higher at15,399.83, after opening down 0.3 percent.
* Trump tweeted on Monday that Canada and Mexico could be exempt from the tariffs if a "new & fair" NAFTA agreement is signed. Representatives from the United States, Canada andMexico are meeting in Mexico City on Monday to wrap up the latest round of discussions on the trade agreement. Canada sends75 percent of its exports to the United States. Five of the 10 sectors on the index were in positive territory.
* The biggest gainer on the index was Crew Energy CR.TO ,rising 7.05 percent, after reporting increases in its fourth quarter adjusted funds flow and production. Prometic Life Sciences PLI.TO , up 6.5 percent, was the second-biggest gainer after winning rare pediatric disease and orphan drug designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Inter-Alpha-Inhibitor-Proteins for the treatment of Necrotizing Enterocolitis. The healthcare group was the biggest gainer, with a 4.2percent jump.
* Baytex Energy BTE.TO and Advantage Oil & Gas AAV.TO were also among the 10 biggest gainers, rising 3.7 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively.
* U.S. crude futures CLc1 gained 0.2 percent to $61.43 abarrel.
* Home Capital Group HCG.TO was the biggest decliner witha 3.7 percent loss, followed by WestJet Airlines WJA.TO , whichslipped 2.8 percent.
* Consumer cyclicals and industries, both down 0.36 percent,were the groups with the biggest drop.
* Bombardier BBDb.TO and Canopy Growth WEED.TO were themost active stocks by volume on the index.
* The TSX had 149 advancing issues, 96 declining ones. Fivewere flat.