* The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index ended up 3.91 points, or 0.03 percent, at 15,545.19.

* South Korea said the North will also suspend nuclear tests while talks with the United States are underway.

* The prospect of talks after months of tensions between North Korea and the United States helped put a floor under global markets, as did a push from U.S. Republican lawmakers to get U.S. President Donald Trump to pull back from proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum. [MKTS/GLOB]

* Gold producers climbed 1.1 percent, helping to support the larger materials sector as gold prices firmed on the potential progress with North Korea. [GOL/]

* Goldcorp advanced 2.7 percent to C$17.01, while Teck Resources was up 1.1 percent at C$36.68 as gold futures rose 1.2 percent to $1,333.4 an ounce.

* But the market was capped by the heavyweight energy group, down 0.5 percent. Canadian Natural Resources fell 1.1 percent to C$39.82, while Suncor Energy was off 0.2 percent to C$41.40.

* Canadian National Railway was the biggest drag on the index, down 2.0 percent at C$95.24 as CIBC cut its target price to C$108 from C$111 the day after the rail company's chief executive officer abruptly stepped down.

* Bombardier Inc fell 5.8 percent to C$3.77 after it said it will sell equity to strengthen its balance sheet as part of a five-year turnaround plan.

* Canopy Growth was among the most heavily traded shares, up 1.7 percent at C$32.93 after Bloomberg reported that the cannabis producer had bid for Spanish firm Alcaliber SA.

* The TSX posted eight new 52-week highs and four new lows. Across all Canadian issues there were 25 new 52-week highs and 16 new lows. Volume on the TSX index was 220.90 million shares.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; Editing by Susan Thomas)