March 12 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index hit a five-month high on Tuesday as energy shares gained on higher oil prices and materials companies got a boost from an uptick in gold prices.
* At 9:55 a.m. ET (13:55 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 25.07 points, or 0.16 percent, at 16,131.31.
* Eight of the index's 11 major sectors were higher, led by the material sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners, as gold prices edged up.
* The energy sector .SPTTEN further boosted the index, rising 0.9 percent as oil prices rose on the day.
* The industrials .GSPTTIN and the technology sector .SPTTTK were marginally lower.
* Canadian dollar CAD= edged lower against its U.S. counterpart, but held near its strongest in nearly a week.
* On the TSX, 138 issues were higher, while 92 issues declined for a 1.50-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 21.11 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Eldorado Gold Corp ELD.TO , which jumped 4.1 percent, and Peyto Exploration and Devlopment Corp PEY.TO , which rose 3.5 percent.
* Empire Company Ltd EMPa.TO fell 5 percent, the most on the TSX, after Desjardins cut its price target on the stock.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO , Niko Resources Ltd NKO.TO and Village Farms International Inc VFF.TO .
* The TSX posted five new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were 38 new 52-week highs and two new lows, with total volume of 40.03 million shares.