Sept 4 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday as domestic jobs rose for the fourth straight month in August and the unemployment rate fell, adding to hopes of recovery as coronavirus-led curbs continue to ease.
* The country added 245,800 jobs in August, most of them full-time, and the unemployment rate fell to 10.2%. Analysts polled by Reuters had predicted a gain of 275,000 jobs and unemployment rate falling to 10.1% from 10.9% in July. At 9:43 a.m. ET (1343 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 25.79 points, or 0.16%, at 16,474.68.
* The financials sector .SPTTFS gained 1.2%, boosted by Laurentian Bank of Canada LB.TO , which jumped 5.7% after the lender beat both revenue and profit estimates for the third quarter.
* The energy sector .SPTTEN fell 0.28% as U.S. crude CLc1 prices were down 1.79% a barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 lost 1.5%. O/R
* The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 1.3% as gold futures GCc1 fell 0.4% to $1,919.7 an ounce. GOL/
* On the TSX, 147 issues were higher, while 69 issues declined for a 2.13-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 22.63 million shares traded.
* The second-biggest gainer on the index was First Quantum Minerals Ltd FM.TO , which rose 3.4%.
* Equinox Gold Corp EQX.TO fell 5%, the most on the TSX, after the gold miner said it was suspending activity at the Los Filos Mine in Mexico, while Centerra Gold Inc CG.TO was down 3.6%.
* The most heavily-traded shares by volume were Suncor Energy Inc SU.TO , Crescent Point Energy Corp CPG.TO and Ivanhoe Mines Ltd IVN.TO .
* The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were three new 52-week highs and no new lows, with a total volume of 36.07 million shares.