Canada's main stock index opened higher on Friday, helped ?by gains ?in mining stocks and as ?investors pushed ?back on expectations for ?an ?imminent U.S. ?interest ?rate ?hike.

The TSX Composite Index vaulted 351.52 points, or 2%, to kick off Friday at 35,318.19.

The Canadian dollar eked up 0.02 cents to 70.45 cents U.S.

Among individual stocks, Australian miner BHP Group has agreed to transfer its San Manuel property in Arizona to Faraday Copper in exchange for a 30% stake in the Canadian miner, as Faraday seeks to develop a copper hub around its adjacent Copper Creek project.Faraday gained eight cents, or 1.3%, to $6.31.

Elsewhere, AtkinsRealis anticipates that Turkey will complete an early review of its CANDU reactors following an information exchange later this summer, which may lead to concrete talks for a nuclear plant bid, a top company official said. Atkins shares leaped $2.60, or 3%, to $90.25.

ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange was up 17.93 points, or 2%, to 932.91.

Oil prices poked ahead 0.11 cents to 68.80 cents U.S. a barrel.

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Gold prices jumped $52.90 to $4,178.60 U.S an ounce.

All 12 TSX subgroups were positive, led by materials, up 2.3%, gold and industrials, ahead 1.1%.

ON WALLSTREET

Equities in the United States were closed due to the 4th of July holiday.