(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index struggled for direction on Thursday as investors weighed a slide in energy stocks and rising U.S.-China trade tensions against hopes of an economy recovery as countries reopened more businesses.
* At 9:44 a.m. ET (1344 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (GSPTSE) was down 4.48 points, or 0.03%, at 15,267.55.
* The energy sector (SPTTEN) dropped 2.5% as U.S. crude (CLc1) prices were down 0.4% a barrel, while Brent crude (LCOc1) lost 0.3%, as the market awaited confirmation of industry data that showed a surprise increase in U.S. crude stocks. [O/R]
* The materials sector (GSPTTMT), which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 2.2% as gold futures
* On the TSX, 94 issues were higher, while 134 issues declined for a 1.43-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 22.35 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was Cineplex (TO:CGX), which jumped 4.6% after the entertainment company said it expects to reopen all its cinemas in July as it secured an additional $110 million from lenders and a waiver on loan covenants to help it survive the pandemic crisis.
* Mining company Pan American Silver Corp (TO:PAAS) was the second largest gainer, rising 4.5%.
* BRP Inc (TO:DOO) fell 9.3%, the most on the TSX, after the sport apparel maker reported its first quarter results.
* The second biggest decliner was methanol supplier Methanex Corp (TO:MX), down 4.2%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Suncor Energy Inc (TO:SU), down 0.3%, Sun Life Financial Inc (TO:SLF), down 0.6%, and Imperial Oil Ltd (TO:IMO), down 0.8%.
* The TSX posted one new 52-week high and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues, there were five new 52-week highs and 4 new lows, with total volume of 34.54 million shares.
