(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday after government data showed the domestic economy expanded at a record pace in June, bolstering optimism around a post-coronavirus recovery.
* The country's real GDP surged by a record 6.5% in June, as the economy continued to claw back from steep declines in March and April, though economic activity still remains below pre-pandemic levels, Statistics Canada said. At 14:41 a.m. ET (13:41 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 50.21 points, or 0.3%, at 16,781.7.
* The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 1.6% as gold futures GCc1 rose 1.8% to $1,955.9 an ounce. GOL/
* The energy sector .SPTTEN climbed 0.8% as U.S. crude CLc1 prices were up 0.2% a barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 lost 0.2%. O/R
* On the TSX, 127 issues were higher, while 88 issues declined for a 1.44-to-1 ratio favoring gainers, with 19.42 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Canadian Western Bank CWB.TO , which jumped 6.6%, after the lender topped profit estimates for the third-quarter.
* Its gains were followed by Silvercorp Metals Inc SVM.TO , which rose 4.6% after brokerage PI Financial raised the target price of the stock.
* OceanaGold Corp OGC.TO fell 10.2%, the most on the TSX, after brokerage PI Financial cut the target price of the gold producer's stock and the second-biggest decliner was Morneau Shepell Inc MSI.TO , down 2.5%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Suncor Energy Inc SU.TO , Just Energy Group Inc JE.TO ,and Sun Life Financial Inc SLF.TO .
* The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 11 new 52-week highs and one new low, with total volume of 33.90 million shares.