(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday on hopes of a pickup in demand as several countries gradually relax lockdown measures, while falling oil prices due to a supply glut kept energy stocks under pressure.
Many states in the United States including California are temporarily easing stay-at-home orders this week, while Germany and Spain are among economies gradually emerging from lockdowns.
* At 10:48 a.m. ET (1448 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 73.93 points, or 0.5%, at 14,885.49.
* Also supporting the move was a gain in technology stocks, which jumped 3% after e-commerce company Shopify Inc posted a surprise adjusted profit for the first quarter as more users visited its platform after lockdowns led merchants to move their businesses online. Shares of the company jumped 6%.
* The energy sector dropped 1.5% as oil prices fell after a report showed a higher-than-expected rise in U.S. inventories.
* U.S. crude prices were down 3.7% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 3.6%.
* On the TSX, 96 issues were higher, while 126 issues declined for a 1.31-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 41.16 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Real Matters Inc, which jumped 10.2% after posting second-quarter revenue and profit above analysts' estimates, and Boralex Inc, which rose 6.4% on beating first-quarter revenue and profit estimates.
* Arc Resources Ltd (TO:ARX) fell 5.3%, the most on the TSX. The second-biggest decliner was Secure Energy Services Inc (TO:SES), down 5.1%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Freegold Ventures Ltd (TO:FVL) and Bombardier (TO:BBDb).
* The TSX posted five new 52-week highs and no new low.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were 12 new 52-week highs and two new lows, with total volume of 68.16 million shares.