(Updates prices, adds comment) Sept 23 (Reuters) - Canada’s main stock index rose on Thursday as investors largely shrugged off the U.S. Federal Reserve’s signals on trimming its massive stimulus, while the energy sector received a boost from stronger oil prices. At 9:44 a.m. ET (1344 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index was up 38.82 points, or 0.19%, at 20,440.31, led by a 1% jump in both healthcare and energy stocks. Limiting the advance for the index, which is on course for its third straight day of gains, was a 1.1% slide in mining stocks on the back of lower gold prices. Global equities also gained following the Fed’s signals on its tapering plans, with easing concerns about a potential default by developer China Evergrande also lifting the sentiment. “With both the Canadian election and the Federal Reserve meeting behind us, and China Evergrande reaching a debt deal, the major market catalysts that worried investors earlier in the week are now largely out of the way,” said Brandon Michael, senior market analyst at ABC Funds. Canadian equities have come under pressure in September after seven straight months of gains on fears of slowing economic recovery due to rising COVID-19 Delta variant infections and higher inflation. Meanwhile, domestic retail sales most likely rose 2.1% in August after dipping 0.6% in July as restrictions linked to the pandemic were lifted, Statistics Canada said in a flash estimate. BlackBerry Ltd gained 9% and was the largest percentage gainer on the TSX, after the cyber-security firm beat Wall Street estimates for second-quarter revenue on Wednesday. First Majestic Silver Corp and Endeavour Silver Corp were the biggest decliners on the index. The TSX posted six new 52-week highs and five new lows. (Reporting by Amal S in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)