Nov 1 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, boosted by gains in shares of metal miners fuelled by rally in gold prices.
* Eight of the index's 11 major sectors were higher, led by the materials sector .GSPTTMT , which added 1.5 percent, as gold futures GCc1 rose 1.3 percent to $1,228.5 an ounce.
* Gold rose on Thursday as the dollar retreated and made the metal less expensive for holders of other currencies. GOL/
* At 9:44 a.m. ET (13:44 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 52.27 points, or 0.35 percent, at 15,079.55.
* Also helping the sentiment was a slew of upbeat earnings reports and deals.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Hudbay Minerals HBM.TO , which jumped 11.2 percent after reporting quarterly results and announcing deal to buy Mason Resources Corp MNR.TO .
* Mason Resources soared more than 100 percent after the buyout deal.
* Norbord OSB.TO , which rose 9.6 percent, was the second biggest gainer after the wood-based panels maker reported a rise in quarterly sales.
* Canadian Natural Resources Ltd CNQ.TO gained 6.9 percent after its quarterly profit more than doubled and beat analysts' estimates helped by higher production and average realized prices. On the TSX, 176 issues were higher, while 66 issues declined for a 2.67-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with traded volumes touching 29.55 million shares.
* Encana Corp ECA.TO fell 15.6 percent, the most on the TSX, after the company said it would buy Newfield Exploration Co NFX.N for $5.5 billion. The second biggest decliner was Maxar Technologies MAXR.TO , down 2.7 percent, after multiple brokerages lower their price target on stock after its results on Wednesday.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO , Encana Corp and Aphria Inc APH.TO .
* The TSX posted no new 52-week high and 3 new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were three new 52-week highs and 21 new lows, with total volume touching 41.83 million shares.