May 8 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index rose on Friday, tracking Wall Street’s gains, as signs of improving U.S.-China relations and higher oil prices boosted confidence.
Top U.S. and Chinese trade representatives discussed their Phase 1 trade deal with China saying they agreed to improve the atmosphere for its implementation and the United States saying both sides expected obligations to be met.
* At 9:42 a.m. ET (13:42 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 114.16 points, or 0.77%, at 14,947.85.
* Canada lost a record-breaking 2.0 million jobs in April while the unemployment rate surged to a near-record high 13.0%, official data showed, although it does not reflect the full extent of damage coronavirus-related shutdowns have done to the economy.
* The energy sector climbed 1.4% as U.S. crude prices were up 3.3% a barrel, while Brent crude added 2.6%.
* The financials sector gained 1.0%. The industrials sector rose 0.6%.
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 1.3% as gold futures fell 0.3% to $1,717.2 an ounce.
* On the TSX, 194 issues were higher, while 30 issues declined for a 6.47-to-1 ratio favoring gainers, with 22.66 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Enerflex Ltd, which jumped 7.4%, and AG Growth International Inc , which rose 5.7%.
* Aphria Inc fell 6.0%, the most on the TSX. The second biggest decliner was Badger Daylighting Ltd, down 5.9% after it posted Q1 revenue and profit that was below analysts’ estimates.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Bombardier Inc, down 2.2 percent; Enbridge Inc, up 1.3 percent and Freegold Ventures Ltd, up 8.7 percent.
* The TSX posted 6 new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were 15 new 52-week highs and one new low, with total volume of 41.44 million shares.
Reporting by Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.