TSX gains as oil price rise supports energy stocks

By Alastair Sharp

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday as higher oil prices lent support to its energy sector, while investors trimmed exposure to some of the country's big banks ahead of their earnings season next week.

Gold miners also weighed as the precious metal eased on a strengthening U.S. dollar.

The energy group climbed 0.5 percent as oil prices pushed higher, with pipeline operator Enbridge Inc (Toronto:ENB.TO - News) adding 1.6 percent to C$50.18 and rival TransCanada (Toronto:TRP.TO - News) up 1.1 percent to C$62.61. Major producer Suncor Energy Inc (Toronto:SU.TO - News) rose 0.4 percent to C$39.04.

The energy sector, which accounts for one-fifth of the index, has weighed heavily on it so far this year, having fallen almost 25 percent.

"We're seeing some negative rotation outgoing from banks, surprisingly finding some homes in the energy complex," said Sid Mokhtari, market technician and director of institutional equity research at CIBC World Markets. "Going into its earnings season investors are nervous about banks."

Toronto-Dominion Bank slipped 0.2 percent to C$64.28 and Bank of Montreal (Toronto:BMO.TO - News) came off 0.2 percent to C$91.63. TD said its investment banking would expand in Dublin in response to uncertainty triggered by Brexit.

Mokhtari said he expects banks to dip further with uninspiring earnings, due next week, and would look to buy into the sector at that point.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) ended up 33.08 points, or 0.22 percent, at 14,984.96.

Eight of the index's 10 main groups were in positive territory.

Consumer discretionary stocks gained 0.8 percent overall, as Statistics Canada reported that retail sales hit a record C$48.99 billion in June and were up in six of the 11 sectors. They grew by 1.1 percent when weak auto sales and lower gasoline prices were excluded.

Fast food company Restaurant Brands International (Toronto:QSR.TO - News) rose 2.4 percent to C$78.06 and auto parts maker Magna International Inc (Toronto:MG.TO - News) added 1.7 percent to C$59.36.

The materials group, which includes base and precious metal miners as well as fertilizer companies, lost 0.5 percent overall as gold prices fell. [GOL/]

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp (Toronto:WPM.TO - News) was down 1.6 percent at C$23.75, and Kinross Gold Corp (Toronto:K.TO - News) lost 2.4 percent to C$5.24, while fertilizer company Agrium Inc (Toronto:AGU.TO - News) shed 1.2 percent to C$121.31 and Potash Corp of Saskatchewan (Toronto:POT.TO - News) fell 1 percent to C$21.59.

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)