TSX falls as materials drop on lower gold prices

Canada's main stock index fell on Thursday, as shares of precious metal miners dropped after gold prices fell on a strong reading of inflation in the United States.

* At 9:37 a.m. ET (1337 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index was down 17.37 points, or 0.1%, at 16,545.92.

* Five of the index's 11 major sectors were lower, led by the materials sector, which lost 0.7%. .

* US underlying consumer prices increased by the most in nearly 1-1/2 years in June amid solid gains in the costs of a range of goods and services.

* The energy sector climbed 0.2% after oil prices hit a six-week high as oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico were evacuated ahead of a storm, while an incident with a British tanker in the Middle East highlighted tensions in the region.

* Data showed that new home prices in Canada fell 0.1% in May, after prices were flat for the previous three months.

* The Canadian dollar strengthened against its US counterpart, approaching last week's eight-month high, as oil prices rose and as the greenback broadly declined following dovish comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

* On the TSX, 73 issues were higher, while 151 issues declined for a 2.07-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 12.39 million shares traded.

* The top percentage gainer on the TSX was Cogeco Communications, which jumped 2.7%, followed by Whitecap Resources Inc, up 2.3%.

* CannTrust Holdings fell 5.8%, the most on the TSX, followed by shares of Methanex Corp, down 3.7%.

* The most heavily traded shares by volume were CannTrust, Toronto Dominion Bank and Encana Corp.

* The TSX posted four new 52-week highs and two new lows.

* Across all Canadian issues, there were 17 new 52-week highs and five new lows, with total volume of 18.20 million shares.