Canadian stock market extends gains

TORONTO, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Canada's main stock index continued to rise Tuesday due to gains among materials stocks and financial groups.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index rose 10.52 points, or 0.07 percent, to close the day at 16,114.03.

Six of its 10 main groups rose although decliners slightly outnumbered advancers overall.

The energy group retreated 0.5 percent, as oil prices dropped after hitting a two-year high on an unplanned closure of a major pipeline that carries North Sea crude.

The financials group added 0.2 percent, with Element Fleet Management Corp up 8.7 percent to 10.46 Canadian dollars.

The materials group climbed 0.6 percent. Potash Corp rose 2.8 percent to 25.48 Canadian dollars and its planned merger partner Agrium Inc rallied 2.9 percent to 142.85 Canadian dollars after agreeing to buy a fertilizer business in Australia.

Teck Resources advanced 0.7 percent to 30.11 Canadian dollars. Enditem