TSX rises on boost from energy stocks

Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday, helped by energy stocks tracking a rise in oil prices, while fresh coronavirus-led lockdowns in Europe worried investors about its economic impact.

The energy sector rose 2.6% as US crude prices were up 2.6% a barrel, while Brent crude added 2.0%.

Oil prices rose on Tuesday as tension simmered following Iran's seizure of a South Korean vessel and as the OPEC+ group of producers were divided over February output levels.

At 9:35 a.m. ET (14:35 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 41.58 points, or 0.24%, at 17,569.35.

The financials sector gained 0.4%. The industrials sector rose 0.2%.

The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.9% as gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,949.4 an ounce.

On the TSX, 116 issues were higher, while 98 issues declined for a 1.18-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 19.18 million shares traded.

The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Crescent Point Energy, which jumped 4.6%, and Vermilion Energy , which rose 4.8%.

Silvercorp Metals fell 5.2%, the most on the TSX. The second biggest decliner was SilverCrest Metals, down 3.7%.

The most heavily traded shares by volume were Toronto-Dominion Bank, SOPerior Fertilizer Corp and Power Corporation of Canada.

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

Across all Canadian issues there were 24 new 52-week highs and one new low, with total volume of 37.40 million shares.