(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index inched higher on Tuesday as investors weighed the prospect of more U.S. stimulus to shore up a pandemic-hit economy against fears of more lockdowns due to a global surge in COVID-19 cases.
* U.S. lawmakers geared up to discuss recovery strategies on Tuesday, a day after Senate Republicans proposed a $1 trillion aid package hammered out with the White House.
* Rising cases of COVID-19 infections in several countries have marked more than 16.57 million cases globally and 654,269 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.
* At 10:24 a.m. ET (14:24 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (GSPTSE) was up 12.38 points, or 0.08%, at 16,173.71.
* The energy sector (SPTTEN) dropped 1.6% as U.S. crude (CLc1) prices were down 1.0% a barrel, while Brent crude (LCOc1) lost 0.2%. [O/R]
* The financials sector (SPTTFS) slipped 0.4%. The industrials sector (GSPTTIN) fell 0.1%.
* The materials sector (GSPTTMT), which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, remain unchanged however, gold futures
* On the TSX, 127 issues were higher, while 89 issues declined for a 1.43-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 39.49 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Canopy Growth Corp (TO:WEED), which jumped 6.8% and Aurora Cannabis (TO:ACB), which rose 6.6%.
* Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (TO:BBU_u) fell 4.0%, the most on the TSX, and the second biggest decliner was MEG Energy Corp (TO:MEG), down 3.5%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Zenabis Global Inc (TO:ZENA), up 5%; Aphria Inc (TO:APHA), up 5.3% and Aberdeen International Inc (TO:AAB), down 25%.
* The TSX posted six new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 24 new 52-week highs and two new lows, with total volume of 94.43 million shares.