(Updates after markets open)

By Ragini Mathur

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index rose on

Wednesday, lifted by information technology stocks ahead of U.S.

chip giant Nvidia's ( NVDA ) results.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.8% at

25,409.45, on pace to claw back some of its recent declines.

Information technology shares led the gains, up

1.9%, as markets awaited quarterly results after hours from AI

bellwether Nvidia ( NVDA ). Investors are scrutinizing AI spending,

particularly after January's market jitters triggered by China's

DeepSeek announcing low-cost competition.

Meanwhile, National Bank of Canada ( NTIOF ) on Wednesday

reported a higher first-quarter profit helped by robust

performance in its wealth management unit. The lender's shares,

however, dipped 3.4%.

Bigger peers Bank of Montreal ( BNKD ) and Bank of Nova

Scotia ( BNS ) beat profit estimates on Tuesday, also helped by

strong income in their wealth management businesses.

"The bank earnings so far have been solid and that's

certainly lent a pretty big hand to the Canadian market," said

Douglas Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets.

Heavily-weighted financials added 0.41% to the

benchmark index.

Materials climbed 0.8% as shares of copper miners

in North America rose after U.S. President Donald Trump moved

closer to imposing tariffs on imports of the red metal.

Canadian miners Hudbay Minerals ( HBM ) rose 4.2%, Teck

Resources ( TECK ) rose 1.3% and First Quantum rose

2.2%.

Limiting overall gains, communication shares fell

0.6% after BCE fell over 1%.

Energy lost 0.24% as oil prices stayed at

two-month lows after a potential peace deal between Russia and

Ukraine continued to weigh on prices.