Dec 28 () - Canada's main stock index rose on Friday, helped by gains in the energy sector, after ending the previous session with its biggest percentage rise in nearly three years.
* At 9:37 a.m. ET (1437 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange'sS&P/TSX Composite index was up 64.32 points, or 0.45 percent, at 14,229.53.
* The main index was set to post its first weekly gain after three consecutive weeks of declines.
* Oil prices rose, with U.S. crude up 0.9 percent and Brent crude 0.3 percent higher.
* The healthcare sector was lifted by a 9.1 percent rise in shares of Aphria Inc.
* U.S. cannabis retailer Green Growth Brands Ltd said on Thursday it would make a hostile all-stock bid for Aphria in a deal valuing it at C$2.8 billion ($2.06 billion).
* Aphria said on Friday the bid undervalued the company.
* The financials sector gained 0.4 percent. The industrials sector rose 0.7 percent.
* The materials sector added 0.1 percent, as gold prices held near six-month highs and as copper was poised for its first weekly gain in five weeks.
* On the TSX, 206 issues were higher, while 30 issues declined for a 6.87-to-1 ratio favoring gainers, with 11.15 million shares traded.
* Top percentage gainers on the TSX were Aphria and miner Hudbay Minerals Inc, which rose 3.0 percent.
* First Majestic Silver Corp fell 2.5 percent, the most on the TSX, after announcing an equity offering
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aphria, Aurora Cannabis and Bombardier.
* The TSX posted two new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were three new 52-week highs and nine new lows, with total volume of 18.78 million shares.
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