* Energy, mining shares climb

* Montage Gold Corp ( MAUTF ), Vermilion Energy ( VET ) among top gainers

* Tech shares fall ahead of U.S. Big Tech earnings

By Sudeshna Ghoshal

July 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index briefly hit an

intraday record high on Wednesday, boosted by mining and energy

stocks as commodity prices climbed, while investors assessed

developments in the U.S.-Iran conflict and new U.S. tariffs on

Canadian imports.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 0.8% at

35,659.60 points by 10:45 a.m. ET, briefly hitting an intraday

record high of 35,730.84 earlier in the session.

* Heavyweight materials shares advanced 3.5%, on

track for a second straight session of gains, as gold edged

higher against a softer dollar.

* NovaGold Resources ( NG ), Montage Gold ( MAUTF ) and

Discovery Mining ( DSVSF ) rose 7.6% to 9.5%, leading gains in

the main TSX index.

* Energy stocks gained 1.2%, tracking a more than

2% jump in oil prices on mounting concerns over disruptions to

Middle Eastern supply routes tied to escalating U.S.-Iran

hostilities and threats to shipping from the Iran-backed Houthi

militia in Yemen.

* "Today is looking promising for Canada because commodity

prices are doing well with the exception of copper, and that

could hurt the base metal producers. But the precious metals and

the energy companies could have a really good day today," said

Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth

Management.

* Six of the index's 10 major sectors traded higher. Global

gas producer Vermilion Energy ( VET ) jumped 10% after TD Cowen

upgraded the stock's rating.

* On the downside, technology stocks shed 1.9% ahead of

earnings from U.S. big technology companies including Alphabet

and Tesla. The reports are due after the

closing bell.

* Shopify ( SHOP ) and Descartes Systems Group ( DSGX )

fell over 3% each.

* Prime Minister Mark Carney said late Tuesday he and Donald

Trump agreed to intensify trade negotiations after the U.S.

president unveiled plans for 50% tariffs on a wide range of

Canadian imports.

* Cieszynski said there could be uncertainty around the

manufacturing and auto sectors until the trade negotiations are

completed.