Aug 27 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, lifted by tentative signs of a rebound in domestic trade activity, while U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's new aggressive strategy to support the U.S. economy further bolstered sentiment.
* Canada's current account deficit narrowed to C$8.63 billion in the second quarter from a revised C$13.22 billion deficit in the first quarter, on a lower trade deficit on both goods and services, Statistics Canada said. Adding to the upward spiral, Powell rolled out a new strategy to restore the United States to full employment and lift inflation back to healthier levels. At 0943 a.m. ET (1343 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 37.43 points, or 0.22%, at 16,827.4.
* The financials sector .SPTTFS gained 1% as Toronto-Dominion Bank TD.TO and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce CM.TO jumped 1.2% and 1.8%, respectively, after both lenders topped analysts' expectations for the third quarter. The energy sector .SPTTEN fell 0.5% as U.S. crude CLc1 prices were down 0.3% a barrel, while Brent crude LCOc1 lost 0.5%. O/R
* The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.6% even though gold futures GCc1 rose 1.6% to $1,972.5 an ounce. GOL/
* On the TSX, 111 issues were higher, while 103 issues declined for a 1.08-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 19.66 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainer in the TSX was Tricon Residential Inc TCN.TO , which jumped 6.1% after Blackstone (NYSE:BX) Real Estate Income Trust, Inc agreed to invest $300 million in the rental housing company.
* BRP Inc DOO.TO rose 5.1% after the all-terrain vehicle maker reported a surprise second-quarter profit.
* Gold miner Equinox Gold Corp EQX.TO fell 2.8%, the most in the TSX index, while the second-biggest decliner was Real Matters Inc REAL.TO , down 2.3%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Sun Life Financial Inc SLF.TO , Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd NDM.TO and Air Canada AC.TO .
* The TSX posted three new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were 41 new 52-week highs and six new lows, with total volume of 35.29 million shares.