TSX gains on energy boost as oil hits 11-month high

Reuters

Published Jan 12, 2021 09:44

Updated Jan 12, 2021 10:25

(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday, helped by gains in energy stocks, as oil prices hit an 11-month high on tighter supply and hopes of a drop in U.S. stockpile.

* The energy sector climbed 1% as U.S. crude prices were up 0.9% a barrel, while Brent crude added 1%. [O/R]

* At 9:38 a.m. ET (14:38 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 20.75 points, or 0.12%, at 17,955.2.

* The largest percentage gainer on the TSX was fuel cell developer Ballard Power Systems Inc, which jumped 13.1% to its highest since 2002, after receiving a purchase order from UK-based Arcola Energy.

* Its gains were followed by asset and wealth management company CI Financial Corp, which rose 5.9%.

* The financials sector gained 0.3%, while the industrials sector fell 0.2%.

* On the TSX, 115 issues rose, while 91 issues fell in a 1.26-to-1 ratio favoring gainers, with 14.93 million shares traded.

* Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc (TO:RBA) fell 5.2%, the most on the TSX, after brokerage Scotiabank downgraded its rating to "sector perform" from "sector outperform". The second biggest decliner was pot producer Cronos Group Inc (TO:CRON), down 1.5%.

* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Toronto-Dominion Bank (TO:TD), Nevada Copper Corp (TO:NCU), and Zenabis Global Inc (TO:ZENA).

* The TSX posted four new 52-week highs and no new low.

* Across Canadian issues, there were 33 new 52-week highs and one new low, with total volume of 35.87 million shares.