Sept 24 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Monday as energy shares were boosted by a surge in crude prices after Saudi Arabia and Russia ruled out any immediate increase to oil production.
* The energy sector .SPTTEN was 2 percent higher as U.S. crude CLc1 rose 2 percent and Brent crude LCOc1 added 2.4 percent. O/R
* Barrick Gold ABX.TO , up 6.7 percent, was the top boost to materials stocks after the company agreed to buy Randgold Resources RRS.L in an $18.3 billion share deal to create the world's largest gold company by value. The materials sector .GSPTTMT , which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 1.2 percent.
* Gold prices were steady partly due to a dip in the dollar, but activity was muted as investors awaited a U.S. central bank meeting this week that is expected to result in an interest rate increase. GOL/
* At 9:50 a.m. ET (1350 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE was up 29.72 points, or 0.18 percent, at 16,253.85.
* Still, seven of the index's 11 major sectors were lower. The consumer discretionary sector's .GSPTTCD 1.4 percent drop was the steepest.
* Data showed Canadian wholesale trade rose 1.5 percent in July from June as sales climbed in four of seven sub-sectors, including a 4.2 percent gain for personal and household goods. On the NAFTA front, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said U.S. and Canadian officials were "very likely" to hold informal talks on the sidelines of a major United Nations meeting in the next few days. On the TSX, 130 issues were higher, while 111 issues declined for a 1.17-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 42.81 million shares traded.
* The top percentage gainers on the TSX were Barrick Gold and Gran Tierra Energy GTE.TO , which rose 7 percent.
* New Gold NGD.TO fell 3.1 percent, the most on the TSX, followed by The Stars Group TSGI.TO , which dipped 2.6 percent.
* Among the most heavily traded shares by volume were Aurora Cannabis ACB.TO and Nemaska Lithium NMX.TO .
* The TSX posted one new 52-week high and two new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 11 new 52-week highs and 13 new lows, with a total volume of 62.81 million shares.