Dec 16 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index treaded waters on Wednesday as investors weighed weakness in energy shares against gains in the materials and technology sectors and hopes of fresh U.S. stimulus.
* At 10:08 a.m. ET (1508 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 4.03 points, or 0.02%, at 17,510.51.
* The energy sector .SPTTEN dropped 1.6% as U.S. crude CLc1 prices were down 0.3% a barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 lost 0.3%. O/R
* The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 0.9% and technology sector .SPTTTK gained 0.68%.
* The gains in the materials sector was led by Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp LIF.TO and SilverCrest Metals Inc SIL.TO both up 4.2%.
* Canada's annual inflation rate accelerated to 1.0% in November, beating analyst expectations on higher shelter prices as rents climbed and home replacement costs increased, Statistics Canada said. On the TSX, 94 issues were higher, while 124 issues declined for a 1.32-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 40.97 million shares traded.
* Air Canada AC.TO fell 7.7%, the most on the TSX, after the airlines announced the pricing of its public offering of shares. The second-biggest decliner was marine port service provider Westshore Terminals Investment Corp WTE.TO , down 3.8%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Air Canada, BCE Inc BCE.TO and National Bank of Canada NA.TO .
* The TSX posted five new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were 39 new 52-week highs and one new low, with total volume of 42.50 million shares.