Nov 15 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday, driven by gains in material shares on the back of rising gold and metal prices, along with news on the possibility of a "free trade deal" between Canada and China.
* The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners, added 1 percent, as gold prices held steady after safe haven demand flowed in during times of political and economic uncertainty. GOL/
* Zinc rallied, supported by sliding stockpiles and signs China may be taking steps to de-escalate its trade dispute with the United States. MET/L
* Sentiment was also lifted after Canadain Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada and China will continue to work together towards an "eventual" free trade deal despite the country's allegiance to the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA), renamed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). At 9:45 a.m. ET (1445 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index .GSPTSE was up 15.44 points, or 0.1 percent, at 15,148.56.
* On economic front, Canada lost 23,000 jobs in October, hurt by a decline in hiring in the trade, transportation and utilities and natural resources and mining sectors, an ADP (NASDAQ:ADP) report showed. Canadian home prices fell in October for the first time in eight months as widespread price declines were seen across the country, another piece of data showed. The energy sector .SPTTEN rose 0.4 percent as oil prices stabilised after losing nearly 7 percent over the previous three days. O/R
* U.S. crude CLc1 prices were up 0.1 percent at $56.63 per barrel and Brent crude LCOc1 added 0.5 percent at $66.75 per barrel.
* On a cautionary note, the Bank of Canada said on Wednesday, the overall perceived risk to the Canadian financial system has increased slightly over the last six months, in part due to unease over the global economic outlook. On the TSX, 114 issues were higher, while 126 issues declined for a 1.11-to-1 ratio to the downside, with volumes touching 18.06 million shares.
* Top gainers on the TSX were shares of Aphria Inc APHA.TO , which jumped 5.2 percent, followed by shares of Nexgen Energy Ltd NXE.TO , which rose 4.8 percent.
* Uni-Select Inc UNS.TO fell 8.5 percent, the most on the TSX, after reporting quarterly earnings.
* The second biggest decliner was Canfor Corp CFP.TO , down 6.9 percent, after deal to acquire majority interest in Sweden's
Vida Group.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO , BetaPro Natural Gas 2x Daily Bear ETF HND.TO and BetaPro Natural Gas 2x Daily Bull ETF HNU.TO .
* The TSX posted no new 52-week high and seven new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were no new 52-week high and 23 new lows, with total volume touching 32.24 million shares.