CANADA STOCKS-TSX set for weekly gain on tech boost
July 23 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday and was on track to post a weekly gain, driven by technology stocks, while Air Canada edged up on forecasting increased bookings in the winter.
* At 9:37 a.m. ET (13:37 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 73.95 points, or 0.37%, at 20,171.47.
* The tech sector has gained nearly 4.5% so far this week, touching a record high on Friday, as a rise in global coronavirus cases sent investors flocking to pandemic-resilient stocks.
* Canada's retail sales likely rebounded in June after dropping less than expected in May, data showed on Friday, as businesses began to reopen.
* Air Canada rose 0.3% after the carrier forecast increased bookings for domestic and U.S.-bound flights in the winter as travel restrictions ease.
* The energy sector climbed 0.1%, even though crude prices were down.
* The financials sector gained 0.7%. The industrials sector rose 0.3%.
* On the TSX, 144 issues were higher, while 74 issues declined for a 1.95-to-1 ratio favouring gainers, with 10.51 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Aecon Group Inc, which jumped 4.4% after the builder posted an upbeat second-quarter earnings and oil producer MEG Energy Corp , which rose 3.6%.
* Automobile parts makers Magna International Inc and FI Group Inc were the biggest decliners, falling 5.8% and 2.9%, respectively.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal and Trevali Mining Corp.
* The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were 53 new 52-week highs and eight new lows, with a total volume of 19.25 million shares. (Reporting by Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M.)
