Aug 2 (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index fell to a four-week low on Thursday, led by the financial sector, after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed 25% tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, stoking fears of a trade war.

* As of 9:48 a.m. ET (13:48 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 103.99 points, or 0.63%, at 16,272.78, its all-time low since July 6.

* U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says Trump ordered a previously proposed 10% tariff hike because China refused to meet U.S. demands and imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods .

* Eight of the index’s 11 major sectors were in the red.

* The financial sector was the biggest loser, down 0.9%. The 0.8% drop in Royal Bank of Canada and Toronto-Dominion Bank weighed the most on the index.

* The energy sector fell 1.4% as oil prices tumbled for a third straight day following a surprise rise in U.S. crude inventories.

* U.S. crude prices fell 0.5% a barrel, while Brent lost 0.4%.

* The biggest lags on the energy index were Suncor Energy, which fell 1.8%, and Canadian Natural Resources, which fell 2.3%.

* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metal miners, as well as fertilizer companies, added 0.4%, boosted by fertilizer and agricultural supply distributor Nutrien Ltd.

* Nutrien rose 4.2% as higher potash and nitrogen fertilizer prices helped generate a quarterly profit that beat expectations.

* Gold futures fell 0.2% to $1,216 an ounce, while copper prices fell 1.0% to $6,111.5 a tonne.

* Bombardier Inc shares rose 3.4%. The plane and trainmaker’s cash burn rate was well below expectations in the second quarter, putting it firmly on track to break even in cash flow this year.

* The biggest percentage gain on the TSX was Gildan Activewear, which jumped 18.8% after the apparel maker raised its full-year sales and profit forecast.

* The second biggest gainer in the index was Spin Master Corp, which rose 7.8% after the results.

* Ivanhoe Mines Ltd fell 3.2 percent, the most on the TSX. The second-biggest decline was Cott Corp, down 3.0% after reporting second-quarter results.

* The most traded stocks by volume were those of Bombardier, Trinidad Drilling and Quarterhill Inc.

* On the TSX, 64 issues rose, while 172 fell for a ratio of 2.69 to 1 on the downside, with 20.62 million shares traded.

* The TSX posted two new 52-week highs and three new lows.

* Across all Canadian issues, there were nine new 52-week highs and 17 new lows, with total volume of 32.52 million shares. (Reporting by Medha Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva)