(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index advanced on Thursday, nearing a more than nine-month high, on gains in industrial and tech stocks and strong quarterly earnings from banks.
* At 10:07 a.m. ET (1507 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 57.28 points, or 0.33%, at 17,415.49.
* Canadian health authorities should soon complete their regulatory review of Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE)'s coronavirus vaccine candidate, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said on Wednesday.
* The industrials sector rose 0.9%, with WSP Global Inc jumping nearly 11% to the top of index after it announced deal to acquire environmental consulting firm Golder Associates.
* The financials sector gained 0.4% as Toronto-Dominion Bank and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce wrapped up a forecast-beating fourth quarter by Canadian lenders, setting aside less-than-expected provisions to cover any loan losses from the COVID-19 pandemic.
* The energy sector dropped 0.8% as U.S. crude prices were down 0.2% a barrel, while Brent crude added 0.1%.
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.7%, even as gold futures rose 0.4% to $1,832.2 an ounce.
* On the TSX, 135 issues were higher, while 83 issues declined for a 1.63-to-1 ratio favoring gainers, with 46.82 million shares traded.
* Iamgold Corp (TO:IMG) fell 3%, the most on the TSX. The second-biggest decliner was Silvercorp Metal (TO:SVM), down 3%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Suncor Energy Inc (TO:SU), down 0.8%; Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (TO:CNQ), down 0.2% and Air Canada (TO:AC), up 4.7%.
* The TSX posted 8 new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 34 new 52-week highs and 4 new lows, with total volume of 83.77 million shares.
