TSX flat as healthcare offsets materials' gains

Canada's main stock index treaded water on Friday, as losses in healthcare stocks led by cannabis producer CannTrust were offset by gains in the materials sector.

* CannTrust Holdings Inc tumbled 8.7%, the most on the TSX, after the company suspended sales of cannabis products. Earlier this week, the firm said Canada's health regulator found that it produced marijuana in unlicensed facilities.

* The company's losses were closely followed by fellow cannabis producer Canopy Growth Co, down 4.5%.

* Healthcare stocks slid 2.44%, the most among the six major sectors.

* At 9:53 a.m. ET (1353 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 12.89 points, or 0.08%, at 16,515.01.

* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, rose 0.1%, as gold futures rose 0.4% to $1,410.1 an ounce.

* Gold prices climbed as investors shrugged off concerns that stronger-than-expected consumer inflation in the United States could influence the US central bank's decision on aggressive monetary policy easing.

* The Canadian dollar strengthened to a near nine-month high against its US counterpart on Friday, adding to its gains since mid-week, when the Bank of Canada made clear it had no intention of easing monetary policy.

* The signal from Canada's central bank that interest rates are on hold has contrasted with dovish guidance from the US Federal Reserve.

* On the TSX, 112 issues were higher, while 116 issues declined for a 1.04-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 17.57 million shares traded.

* The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was Aritzia Inc , which jumped 7.0% after reporting first-quarter results.

* Alaris Royalty followed closely behind with a 3.9% rise after brokerage CIBC upgraded the company's shares to "outperform" from "neutral".

* The most heavily traded shares by volume were CannTrust, Aurora Cannabis and Nemaska Lithium.

* The TSX posted four new 52-week highs and one new low.

* Across all Canadian issues, there were eight new 52-week highs and six new lows, with total volume of 28.03 million shares.