CANADA STOCKS-TSX turns negative as banks offset Loblaw's bounce

TORONTO Dec 6 (Reuters) - The main Canadian stock index turned negative in early trade on Thursday as the country's biggest banks weighed on the market after turning in fair to middling results, offsetting a surge in grocer Loblaw Cos Ltd as it moves to spin off its real estate assets.

At 9:52 a.m. (1452 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 12.88 points, or 0.11 percent, at 12,170.17. It had opened in positive territory.