(Updates prices, sectors)
April 13 (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index opened higher on Tuesday as oil prices rose following strong China imports data, while consumer prices in the United States spiked, signaling a faster economic growth.
U.S. consumer prices increased by the most in more than 8-1/2 years in March and underlying inflation picked up as more parts of the economy reopened, thanks to increased vaccinations and massive fiscal stimulus.
* At 9:36 a.m. ET (1336 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 26.83 points, or 0.14%, at 19,228.11.
* Air Canada, struggling with a collapse in traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reached a deal on Monday on a long-awaited aid package with the federal government that would allow it to access up to C$5.9 billion ($4.69 billion) in funds.
* The energy sector was up 0.5% as of 9:45 a.m. ET, as both U.S. crude and Brent crude prices rose 1% a barrel.
* The financials sector slipped 0.4%. The industrials sector fell 0.5%.
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 1.4% as gold futures rose 0.6% to $1,741.7 an ounce.
* On the TSX, 104 issues advanced, while 121 issues declined in a 1.16-to-1 ratio favoring decliners, with 14.91 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Endeavour Silver Corp, which jumped 5.4% and Sunopta Inc , which rose 4.4%.
* OrganiGram Holdings fell 6.6%, the most on the TSX, while the second biggest decliner was GFL Environmental , down 5.1%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Toronto Dominion Bank, Sabina Gold & Silver Corp and Air Canada.
* The TSX posted eight new 52-week highs and no new low.
* Across Canadian issues, there were 69 new 52-week highs and five new lows, with total volume of 26.82 million shares. (Reporting by Shashank Nayar in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
