(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday, helped by energy stocks, as oil prices gained despite renewed fears about fuel demand recovery due to surging coronavirus cases.
* The energy sector climbed 1.1% as U.S. crude prices rose 1.7% a barrel, while Brent crude added 1.6%. [O/R]
* At 9:39 a.m. ET (13:39 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 6.66 points, or 0.04%, at 16,517.49.
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 0.1% as gold futures rose 1.0% to $1,907.4 an ounce. [GOL/]
* On the TSX, 118 issues were higher, while 93 issues declined in a 1.27-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 11.32 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were oil producer Vermilion Energy Inc (TO:VET), which jumped 3.1%, and Fortuna Silver Mines Inc (TO:FVI), which rose 2.2%, after the miner posted third-quarter data on production of gold and silver.
* Empire Company Limited (TO:EMPa) fell 1.5%, the most on the TSX, followed by software maker Descartes Systems Group Inc (TO:DSG), down 1.4%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Toronto-Dominion Bank (TO:TD), Silver Elephant Mining Corp (TO:ELEF), and Microbix Biosystems Inc (TO:MBX).
* The TSX posted five new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 18 new 52-week highs and one new low, with total 23.45 million shares traded.