CANADA STOCKS-TSX climbs to fresh peak as commodity stocks extend gains

By Utkarsh Hathi

Jan 6 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose to a fresh peak on Tuesday, supported by commodities-linked shares, while investors awaited key economic data due later this week.

Toronto's S&P/TSX Composite index .GSPTSE was up 0.2% at 32,276.63 points as of 10:48 a.m., after touching a record 32,331.29 points earlier in the session.

The benchmark closed Monday at a record high, boosted by precious-metal miners after the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro over the weekend sparked a rush for safe-haven assets, including bullion.

Gold prices XAU= hovered near a one-week peak on Tuesday, having risen 3% in the previous session, while silver prices XAG= were up about 5%. GOL/

Gold miners .SPTTGD rose 2.3% on the Canadian benchmark, while the broader materials sector .GSPTTMT extended gains, adding 1.5%.

Investors are also weighing the impact of Maduro's capture on oil supply, given Venezuela is home to the world's largest oil reserves.

Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 0.2%, while TSX's energy sub-index .SPTTEN gained 0.8%, after dropping sharply on Monday.

“There's not really any data to rely on to determine which direction oil prices or oil stocks should go. So it's really the collective views of investors that are going to drive them, more so than anything fundamental,” said Josh Sheluk, portfolio manager at Verecan Capital Management.

On the macro front, investors await December employment data for the U.S. and Canada, due on Friday, for cues on monetary policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada later this month.

Canada's services sector continued to contract in December, S&P Global's purchasing managers' index showed.