TSX rises as gold prices hit record peak

Canada's main stock index rose on Monday, boosted by gold miners after prices of the yellow metal hit a record peak on worsening ties between China and the United States.

* Gold jumped 1.6% to surpass its 2011 highs as bullion prices also benefited from a weaker U.S. dollar and ultra-low interest rates.

* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, soared 3.6%.

* At 9:38 a.m. ET (13:38 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was up 33.9 points, or 0.21%, at 16,030.96.

* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Endeavour Mining Corp, which jumped 8.3%, and First Majestic Silver Corp , which rose 8%.

* The energy sector dropped 1% as U.S. crude prices were down 0.5% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 0.6%.

* The financials sector slipped 1.2%. The industrials sector rose 0.1%.

* On the TSX, 93 issues were higher, while 123 issues declined for a 1.32-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 17.43 million shares traded.

* Laurentian Bank of Canada fell 3.2%, the most on the TSX, and the second-biggest decliner was CompX International Inc, down 2.7%.

* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Royal Bank of Canada, down 0.8%, and Les Resources Yorbeau Inc, up 15.4%.

* The TSX posted 22 new 52-week highs and one new low.

* Across all Canadian issues there were 84 new 52-week highs and four new lows, with total volume of 46.31 million shares.

(Reporting by Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni)