Canada's main stock index fell on Monday in broad-based declines led by shares of material companies echoing a weaker tone on global stock markets after data showed economic growth in China for 2018 was its slowest in almost three decades.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index slipped 21.28 points by noon Monday to 15,282.55. Through Friday, the index has produced 11 straight winning sessions, during which it had gained nearly a thousand points.
The Canadian dollar skidded 0.97 cents to 75.25 cents U.S.
Weighing on the materials sector was Pan American Silver which fell 67 cents, or 3.6%, the most on the TSX, to $18.14, though New Gold came out of the shadows to gain four cents, or 3.1%, to $1.32.
The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Nuvista Energy, up six cents, or 1.3%, to $4.55, and Cronos Group, ahead 77 cents, or 3.9%, to $20.50.
Oil prices were dropped eight cents to $53.72 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slid $2.70 to $1,279.90 U.S. an ounce.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange inched higher 1.2 points to 596.71
All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups remained negative as energy doffed 0.7%, health-care, off 0.6%, and communications lost 0.5%
The three gainers were gold, up 0.5%, materials and industrials, each up 0.3%.
ON WALLSTREET
Markets in the States are closed Monday for Martin Luther King Day.
