TSX rises to a near four-week high, led by financials and industrials

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday to a near four-week high, led by financial and industrial stocks as surprisingly upbeat trade data from China supported sentiment.

The most influential movers on the index included Royal Bank of Canada (Toronto:RY.TO - News), which rose 0.7 percent to C$76.28, and Bank of Nova Scotia (Toronto:BNS.TO - News), which advanced 1.1 percent to C$63.21.

The financials group gained 0.7 percent, while industrials rose 1.1 percent and consumer discretionary stocks were up 0.8 percent.

China's exports in March returned to growth for the first time in nine months, adding to further signs of stabilization in the world's second-largest economy that cheered global investors.

At 9:52 a.m. EDT (1352 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) rose 36.85 points, or 0.27 percent, to 13,618.27. Seven of the index's 10 main groups were higher.

The energy group retreated 0.3 percent as oil prices pared some recent gains.

U.S. crude prices were down 1.8 percent to $41.42 a barrel, while Brent crude lost 1.3 percent to $44.13.[O/R]

The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.2 percent.

Barrick Gold Corp (Toronto:ABX.TO - News) fell 2.1 percent to C$20.44 as spot gold fell 0.8 percent.

(Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)