Muted Reaction To Keystone Breakthrough -- Canadian Commentary

(RTTNews) - Canadian stocks inched higher Monday, as weakness emerged in the energy sector despite the clearance of a major hurdle for the Keystone pipeline.

Nebraska narrowly approved an alternate route for TransCanada Corp's (TRP.TO) Keystone XL pipeline through the state, just days after a spill in South Dakota. TransCanada gained 1.5 percent.

Still, with crude oil prices falling, energy stocks dropped 1.75 percent. Gold stocks also fell along with gold prices.

Rising health care and financials kept Toronto's main index in the green. The TSX Composite Index added 5.83 points to 16,004.40.

Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it's going ahead with plans for an all-stock takeover offer for CanniMed Therapeutics Inc. after failing to reach an agreement with the company's board. Aurora added 6.1 percent.

Meanwhile, CanniMed is snapping up smaller Newstrike Resource. CMED added 2 percent.

Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc. both say they can't meet a Dec. 1 deadline to extend wireless code. Telecom shares were up 0.6 percent.

Bombardier said they will hire 1,000 workers for their business jet production. The stock was down 1 percent.

On Friday, it was reported that BlackBerry COO Marty Beard will resign to deal with family matters. Shares fell 0.5 percent.