Oct 16 (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index ticked higher on Wednesday, supported by a jump in shares of fashion retailer Aritzia following higher quarterly revenue and gains in mining stocks.
* At 9:39 a.m. ET (13:39 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 14.43 points, or 0.09%, at 16,432.82.
* Gains in Canadian equities were in contrast to Wall Street’s dip after a legislation targeting the Hong Kong protests stoked fears of more friction between United States and China.
* Latest economic data showed Canada’s annual inflation rate held steady at 1.9% in September, falling short of expectations of a 2.1% rise. It’s the last major release of economic data before a national election.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Aritzia Inc , which jumped 14.9% after the company reported higher quarterly revenue and Silvercorp Metal, which rose 4.1%.
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 0.3% as gold futures rose 0.3% to $1,481.4 an ounce.
* Five of the index’s 11 major sectors were higher with the energy sector climbing 0.5%, financials sector up 0.3%.
* U.S. crude prices were down 0.1% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 0.2%.
* On the TSX, 132 issues were higher, while 94 issues declined for a 1.40-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 10.60 million shares traded.
* Aphria Inc fell 4.3%, the most on the TSX. The second biggest decliner was Killam Reit Un, down 3.7%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aphria, CannTrust Holdings and B2Gold Corp.
* The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and one new low.
* Across all Canadian issues there were seven new lows and one new 52-week high, with total volume of 17.92 million shares. (Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
