April 17 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index opened

higher on Wednesday, pulled up by materials and tech stocks

tracking higher prices of precious metals, while investors

awaited fresh cues on the timing of interest rate cuts by

central banks.

At 9:30 a.m. ET (13:30 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's

S&P/TSX composite index was up 58.18 points, or 0.27%,

at 21,701.05.