TSX flat as energy losses offset mining gains

Canada's main stock index was flat on Tuesday as losses in energy firms offset gains in mining companies, while investors looked ahead to inflation data due on Wednesday for cues about economic recovery.

The energy sector dropped 0.2% as US crude prices were down 0.2% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 0.1%.

The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, gained 0.4% as gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,870.5 an ounce.

At 9:47 a.m. ET (1347 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 8.47 points, or 0.04%, at 19,466.18.

Canada's Centerra Gold rose 7.8%, after saying it was taking all measures possible to protect shareholder rights and is seeing good support from the Canadian and UK governments, a day after Kyrgyzstan seized control of the company's Kumtor gold mine.

The Canadian dollar climbed to a six-year high against its US counterpart, as the greenback broadly declined.

The financials sector gained 0.3%. The industrials sector fell 0.4%.

On the TSX, 102 issues were higher, while 118 issues declined for a 1.16-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 20.16 million shares traded.

The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Centerra Gold, which jumped 6.1% and Lithium Americas Corp , which rose 3.9%.

Parex Resources fell 5.0%, the most on the TSX, after withdrawing second-quarter production guidance.

The second-biggest decliner was Canfor Corp, down 3.4%.

The most heavily traded shares by volume were Bombardier Inc, Western Forest Products Inc and Athabasca Oil Corp.

The TSX posted 19 new 52-week highs and one new low.

Across all Canadian issues, there were 69 new 52-week highs and seven new lows, with a total volume of 46.68 million shares.