Canada's main stock index inched higher on Tuesday, as shares of precious metal miners gained on the back of higher gold prices.

The materials sector added 1 percent as gold futures rose 1.0 percent to $1,331.60 an ounce, driven by concerns over slowing global growth.

The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were precious metal miners Pretium Resources Inc, which jumped 6.1 percent, followed by Semafo Inc, which rose 4.2 percent.

Investors will keep an eye on the latest round of trade talks between the United States and China in the hopes that the two countries will hammer out a deal to end their protracted tariff war.

At 9:41 a.m. ET (14:41 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 19.71 points, or 0.12 percent, at 15,857.95.

The second biggest gainer was the technology sector , which rose 0.97 percent, helped by gains in Constellation Software Inc and Shopify Inc.

On the TSX, 132 issues were higher, while 100 issues declined for a 1.32-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 23.28 million shares traded.

Transcontinental Inc fell 2.7 percent, the most on the TSX. The second biggest decliner was Cameco Corp , down 2.3 percent.

The most heavily traded shares by volume were Nemaska Lithium Inc, Bombardier Inc and Encana Corp .

The TSX posted six new 52-week highs and no new lows.

Across all Canadian issues there were 40 new 52-week highs and five new lows, with total volume of 41.91 million shares.

Copyright Reuters, 2019

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