Sept 20 (Reuters) - The heavyweight financial sector pushed Canada's main index higher on Thursday and a rise in shares of cannabis producers boosted the healthcare sector.
* Shares of lenders Royal Bank of Scotland (LON:RBS) RY.TO , Bank of Nova Scotia BNS.TO and Toronto-Dominion Bank TD.TO gained between 0.4 percent and 0.8 percent.
* The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO up 11.6 percent. The company is looking to list its shares in the U.S. in October, according to a Financial Post report. Canopy Growth WEED.TO , up 4.5 percent, was the second biggest gainer on the main index.
* Eight of the index's 11 major sectors were higher, the healthcare sector's .GSPTTHC 3 percent rise being the highest.
* At 9:52 a.m. ET (13:52 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 38.61 points, or 0.24 percent, at 16,188.53.
* Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he wanted to see flexibility from the United States if the two sides are to reach a deal on renewing NAFTA. The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners, added 0.4 percent, as gold prices gained after the dollar slumped, its safe-haven appeal lessened as fears over U.S.-China trade tensions faded. GOL/
* On the TSX, 139 issues were higher, while 100 issues declined for a 1.39-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 30.99 million shares traded.
* New Gold NGD.TO fell 6.9 percent, the most on the TSX, followed by Trican Well Service TCW.TO , down 5.8 percent.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were RNC Minerals RNX.TO , Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO and Neovasc NVCN.TO .
* The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and one new low.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 18 new 52-week highs and 18 new lows, with total volume of 62.66 million shares.