Aug 8 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was flat on Wednesday, as gains in financial shares were offset by losses in the energy sector.
* At 10:06 a.m. ET (1406 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index .GSPTSE was down 4.49 points, or 0.03 percent, at 16,281.81.
* The financial sector .SPTTFS rose 0.3 percent, while the energy group .SPTTEN dropped 1.1 percent.
* The gains in financials were led by a 3.4 percent rise in shares of Thomson Reuters Corp TRI.TO , which reported a 2 percent rise in quarterly revenue. Energy stocks were weighed down by falling oil prices on the back of slowing Chinese demand and an escalating trade spat between the United States and China.
* Four of the index's 11 major sectors were lower.
* U.S. crude CLc1 prices slipped 1.6 percent and Brent crude LCOc1 lost 1.0 percent. O/R
* China is slapping additional import tariffs of 25 percent on $16 billion worth of U.S. goods ranging from oil and steel products to autos and medical equipment. Saudi Arabia is selling Canadian assets in an escalating row after Ottawa criticized the arrest of a female activist, according to a report. Canada plans to seek help from the United Arab Emirates and Britain to defuse an intensifying dispute with Saudi Arabia, but close ally the United States made clear it would not get involved. Economic data showed, the value of Canadian building permits unexpectedly dropped by 2.3 percent in June on weakness in the residential sector. On the TSX, 84 issues were higher, while 146 issues declined for a 1.74-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 7.98 million shares traded.
* The top advancer on the TSX was Nuvista Energy NVA.TO , which jumped 7.2 percent after posting higher quarterly production.
* The second-biggest percentage gainer was Altus Group AIF.TO , which rose 5.3 percent on higher quarterly revenue.
* Magna International MG.TO fell 6.2 percent to become the top laggard on the TSX after lowering its full-year production forecast for North America. The second-biggest decliner was Spin Master Corp TOY.TO , down 5.2 percent, after announcing a secondary offering.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were those of Horizonte Mineral HZM.TO , Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO and Neovasc Inc NVCN.TO .
* The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and seven new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were 11 new 52-week highs and 17 new lows, with total volume of 16.90 million shares.