CANADA STOCKS-TSX could follow commodities to higher open

TORONTO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index may
open higher on Monday as its heavy weighting in natural
resource-related shares could benefit from gains in commodity
prices.

A recent surge in prices for gold and oil have helped boost
the TSX from a five-year low touched in March. The energy and
materials sectors make up more than 40 percent of the TSX's
weighting.

Earnings due from Apple Inc (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) and Texas Instruments
Inc (TXN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) out of the United States may also impact sentiment
as investors look for further signs of an economic rebound.

The S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE closed virtually flat
at 11,504.76 on Friday. The index ended the week up 0.6
percent, its second weekly rise in a row.

Here is some news that could affect the market:

AGRIUM (AGU.TO: Quote, Profile, Research)

Fertilizer maker Agrium Inc (AGU.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) agreed to sell part of
a nitrogen facility to Terra Industries Inc (TRA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) for $250
million in cash as part of its hostile bid to acquire rival CF
Industries Holdings Inc (CF.N: Quote, Profile, Research). [ID:nN19341430]

QLT Inc (QLT.TO: Quote, Profile, Research)

Canadian eye-care company QLT Inc said it restructured its
pact with Novartis Pharma AG (NOVN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research), giving QLT the
exclusive rights to sell anti-blindness treatment Visudyne in
the United States. [ID:nBNG501789]

TOROMONT INDUSTRIES LTD (TIH.TO: Quote, Profile, Research)

Canada's Toromont Industries Ltd announced on Friday a C$
597 million ($574 million) offer to acquire Enerflex (EFX_u.TO: Quote, Profile, Research)
after friendly talks for a deal with the management of the
supplier of equipment for the oil and gas industry collapsed.
[ID:nN16370692]

OIL STEADIES

Oil hit a year-high above $79 a barrel on Monday, driven by
bullish sentiment across financial markets, but later slipped
back as traders questioned whether ample fuel supplies
justified current price levels. [O/R]

GOLD ADDS TO GAINS

Gold rose on Monday, building on the gains of the last two
weeks, as the euro rose towards $1.50 and oil prices reached a
new 12-month high near $80 a barrel. [ID:nLJ735828]

RESEARCH ROUNDUP:

Following is a summary of research actions on Canadian
companies reported by Reuters. For more, please double click
[RCH/CA]

* Genuity raises Sun Life Financial's (SLF.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) price target
2.5 percent to C$40.

* Raymond James raises Trinidad Drilling's (TDG.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) price
target 17.8 percent to C$8.25 with "outperform" rating.

($1=$1.03 Canadian)
(Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)