Feb 19 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index inched higher on Tuesday, as shares of precious metal miners gained on the back of higher gold prices.
* The materials sector .GSPTTMT added 1 percent as gold futures GCc1 rose 1.0 percent to $1,331.60 an ounce, driven by concerns over slowing global growth. GOL/
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were precious metal miners Pretium Resources Inc PVG.TO , which jumped 6.1 percent, followed by Semafo Inc SMF.TO , which rose 4.2 percent.
* Investors will keep an eye on the latest round of trade talks between the United States and China in the hopes that the two countries will hammer out a deal to end their protracted tariff war.
* At 9:41 a.m. ET (14:41 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 19.71 points, or 0.12 percent, at 15,857.95.
* The second biggest gainer was the technology sector .SPTTTK , which rose 0.97 percent, helped by gains in Constellation Software Inc CSU.TO and Shopify Inc SHOP.TO .
* On the TSX, 132 issues were higher, while 100 issues declined for a 1.32-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 23.28 million shares traded.
* Transcontinental Inc TCLa.TO fell 2.7 percent, the most on the TSX. The second biggest decliner was Cameco Corp CCO.TO , down 2.3 percent.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Nemaska Lithium Inc NMX.TO , Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO and Encana Corp ECA.TO .
* The TSX posted six new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 40 new 52-week highs and five new lows, with total volume of 41.91 million shares.