The TSX Composite pointed downward 184.15 points, or 1%, to close Wednesday at 19,184.54.
The Canadian dollar folded 0.48 cents to 74.33 cents U.S.
Energy stocks took a pounding, with MEG Energy collapsing 54 cents, or 3%, to $17.65, while Parex Resources listed lower 78 cents, or 3.7%, to $20.13.
In health-care stocks, Aurora Cannabis docked 15 cents, or 8%, to $1.73, while rival Canopy Growth descended 19 cents, or 4.6%, to $3.95.
In consumer discretionary issues, Spin Master lost $1.71, or 3.8%, to $43.48, while Gildan Activewear handed back 82 cents, or 2%, to $40.74.
Gold stocks tried to right the ship, with Centerra Gold gaining 15 cents, or 2.6%, to $5.86, while Equinox Gold traveled 22 cents, or 4.9%, to $4.67.
In real-estate, First Service Corporation hiked $3.43, or 2.2%, to $159.67, while Canadian Apartment REIT units jumped $1.01, or 2.4%, to $43.01.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dipped 3.24 points to 613.48.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups fell on the day, with energy trudging 1.6%, while health-care and consumer discretionary stocks were each down 1.1%.
The two gainers were gold, up 1.1%, and real-estate climbing but 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks fell in volatile trading Wednesday after the Federal Reserve raised rates by three-quarters of a point and forecast more sizable rate hikes in its fight against inflation, actions widely expected by traders.
The Dow Jones Industrials tumbled 522.45 points, or 1.7%, to wrap up Wednesday trading at 30,183.78.
The S&P 500 let go of 66 points, or 1.7%, to 3,789.93.
The NASDAQ Composite fell 204.86 points, or 1.8%, to 11,220.19.
With the S&P 500 down more than 8% in the past month and 18% for 2022 heading into Wednesday’s Fed actions, stocks were already pricing in an aggressive tightening campaign by the Fed that could push the economy into a recession.
The Fed raised rates by 0.75 percentage point, or 75 basis points, as was widely expected, and said it expects its so-called terminal rate to reach 4.6% to fight persistently high U.S. inflation.
That’s the rate at which the central bank will end its tightening regime. The central bank also indicated that it plans to stay aggressive, hiking rates to 4.4% by next year.
General Mills’ stock hit an all-time high following its latest earnings report. Defense stocks also rose as Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a partial military mobilization.
Investors will be monitoring the central bank’s longer-term projections, paying close attention to the terminal fed funds’ rate last projected in June to hit 3.8% in 2023. Some economists, however, expect the Fed to raise that forecast above 4%.
Treasury prices regained lost group, sending yields down to 3.51% from Tuesday’s 3.56%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite direction.
Oil prices decreased 62 cents to $83.32 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices popped $11.70 to $1,682.80 U.S. an ounce.
