CANADA STOCKS-TSX rises as tech stocks rebound, miners gain

Feb 18 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday, led by technology and mining shares.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index .GSPTSE was up 1.50% at 33,389.73.

Tech stocks on Wall Street rebounded after recent worries over AI disruption, sending the tech sector on TSX .SPTTTK up 3.9%.

On Wall Street, U.S. indices were lifted by gains in Nvidia, Amazon and other technology-related heavyweights following recent jitters about artificial intelligence.

The TSX's gold index .SPTTGD rose 2.8%, as the yellow metal XAU= gained 2.2% amid lingering geopolitical concerns, even as minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's January meeting showed officials divided over whether interest rates may need to be hiked again or should remain on hold.

The broader materials index .GSPTTMT, which includes metal miners, advanced 2.8%.

Defense stocks gained as Canada, seeking to cut its reliance on the U.S. arms industry, wants to dramatically increase the amount of weapons it buys from domestic firms.

Bombardier BBDb.TO jumped 5.9%, Magellan MAL.TO gained 1.9% and MDA Space MDA.TO rose nearly 3.2%.

Oil prices also gained after the outcome of peace talks, sending energy shares .SPTTEN up 2.3%.

While geopolitical uncertainty and worries over AI disruption have dominated the market sentiment, investors are also keeping an eye on the economy in Canada.

"We're maybe losing the plot a little bit because it seems like the economy is stabilized and that's a good thing but at a fairly weak level," said Josh Sheluk, portfolio manager at Verecan Capital Management.

"It is prudent to keep an eye on economic progress in Canada because we do seem to be a little bit weaker than the south of the border now."

Among individual movers, TFI International TFII.TO slipped 3.3% after the logistics firm forecast first-quarter adjusted profit below estimates.

Elsewhere, iA Financial IAG.TO shed 11% after the insurance firm reported fourth-quarter profit below estimates, while asset marketplace firm RB Global RBA.TO jumped 3.8% after reporting fourth-quarter revenue beating estimates.