Sept 12 (Reuters) - Canada's main index slipped on Wednesday, weighed down by the heavyweight financial sector.
* The financial sector .SPTTFS slipped 0.3 percent as shares of Royal Bank of Canada RY.TO , Toronto-Dominion Bank TD.TO and Bank of Montreal BMO.TO fell between 0.3 and 0.4 percent.
* In a bright spot, shares of Bausch Health Companies BHC.TO jumped 15 percent, helping the healthcare sector .GSPTTHC rise 3.9 percent. The company's shares rose after it resolved intellectual property litigation related to its bowel disorder drug, Xifaxan, with Actavis (NYSE:AGN) Laboratories. At 10:00 a.m. ET (14:00 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was down 20.39 points, or 0.13 percent, at 16,073.86.
* Eight of the index's 11 major sectors were lower.
* Canada is ready to offer the United States limited access to the Canadian dairy market as a concession in negotiations to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement, two Canadian sources said on Tuesday. The Canadian dollar edged higher against its U.S. counterpart on Tuesday as oil prices jumped and investors grew more optimistic of a deal to renew the NAFTA trade pact. The energy sector .SPTTEN climbed 0.7 percent as crude oil prices gained after a drop in U.S. crude inventories and as the prospect of the loss of Iranian supply added to concerns over the delicate balance between consumption and production. O/R
* On the TSX, 106 issues were higher, while 128 issues declined for a 1.21-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 39.08 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were shares of New Gold Inc NGD.TO , which jumped 16.5 percent after the company named a new chief executive officer.
* The top decliner on the TSX was Altagas ALA.TO , which fell 2.8 percent, followed by Empire Co EMPa.TO , down 2.7 percent.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Royal Nickel RNX.TO , Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO and New Gold.
* The TSX posted five new 52-week highs and two new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were 16 new 52-week highs and 19 new lows, with total volume of 72.39 million shares.