CANADA STOCKS-Toronto stocks edge up, following global markets higher

March 12 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose modestlyon Monday, buoyed by improved risk appetite in global marketsbut declines in energy shares and gold producers capped gains ascommodity prices fell.

* At 10:08 a.m. EDT (1408 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange'sS&P/TSX composite index was up 15.53 points, or 0.1percent, at 15,593.34.

* The energy group retreated 0.3 percent, weighedby Suncor Energy Inc, which fell 0.7 percent to C$41.47,and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, down 0.2 percent atC$38.83.

* U.S. crude prices were down 1.1 percent at $61.39 abarrel, erasing earlier gains on expectations that U.S. outputwill rise this year.

* The gold subsector further pressured the market,falling 0.3 percent as investors sold gold amid stronger riskappetite. Iamgold Corp fell 2.9 percent to C$6.34,while Eldorado Gold Corp lost 3.1 percent to C$1.41.

* The losses in the commodity-related sectors were offset bya better tone in global markets as world stocks surged to atwo-week high.

* In Toronto, financial shares helped support themarket, with the sector up 0.2 percent. Bank of Nova Scotiawas one of the biggest lifts on the index, edging up0.4 percent to C$81.03.

* The TSX posted two new 52-week highs and three new lows.Across all Canadian issues there were 32 new 52-week highs andnine new lows. Volume on the TSX index was 21.19 million shares.(Reporting by Leah Schnurr in OttawaEditing by Jeffrey Benkoe)