The materials and energy sectors helped Canada’s main stock index to outpace U.S. markets, which were essentially flat on concerns about a trade deal with China.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 32.50 points at 16,248.76.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 14.17 points at 26,048.51. The S&P 500 index was down 1.01 points at 2,885.72, while the Nasdaq composite was down 0.60 points at 7,822.57.

The Canadian dollar traded at an average of US75.31¢ compared with an average of US75.37¢ on Monday.

The July crude contract was up US1¢ at US$53.22 per barrel and the July natural gas contract was up US4.2¢ at US$2.40 per mmBTU.

The August gold contract was up US$1.90 at US$1,331.20 an ounce and the July copper contract was up US1¢ at US$2.67 a pound.