The Toronto stock market was lower Friday as mining stocks lost ground amid disappointing data from China.
The S&P/TSX composite index stumbled 45.33 points to finish Friday at 13,458.86.
The Canadian dollar was positive 0.26 cents to 93.99 cents U.S.
Base metal prices backed off as China's official non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index fell to a four-month low, coming in at 54.6 in December from 56 in November. A reading above 50 indicates expansion.
The non-manufacturing PMI covers services including retail, aviation and software as well as the real estate and construction sectors.
The base metals sector was down as March copper on the New York Mercantile Exchange lost three cents to $3.35 U.S. a pound.
Thompson Creek Metals shed three cents to $2.50 while Capstone Mining lost eight cents to $2.92.
The energy sector lost strength as Imperial Oil shed 18 cents to $46.44.
The gold sector drooped as Iamgold dropped four cents to $3.73, and Barrick Gold shed 25 cents to $19.29.
On the other hand, health-care stocks proved the strongest of the bunch, with Extendicare shares moving up 13 cents, or 1.9%, to $6.93.
Techs were generally supportive while Celestica rose 11 cents to $11.12.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 5.50 points to 944.71
Nine of the 14 TSX subgroups were lower, with metals and mining stocks dropping 1.4%, while materials slid 1%, and gold dipped 0.9%.
The five gainers were headed by health-care issues, up 0.5%, while information technology gained 0.3%, and real-estate inched up 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
After kicking off the year with a loss, stocks were mixed Friday.
The Dow Jones industrial average added 28.64 points to close at 16,469.99
The S&P 500 index dipped 0.61 points to 1,831.33. The NASDAQ finished negative 11.16 points to 4,131.91.
Trading volume remained low Friday, as a major snowstorm in the Northeast kept traders away at the end of the holiday week.
Though the broader market's moves were relatively muted, Twitter shares continued to surge. The social media company's stock was up more than 3%, following a 6% jump on Thursday.
While Twitter was soaring, tech giant Apple continued to lose ground for a second day. Some traders speculated that activist investor Carl Icahn, who took a position in the company last year and has been pushing for a big buyback, may be unloading some shares.
Shares of T-Mobile were sharply lower after rival AT&T said it would offer up to $450 U.S. to customers who switch from T-Mobile.
Car makers were also in focus as they announced sales figures for December.
Shares of General Motors and Toyota were lower after they all reported weaker December sales than expected. But Ford shares were up 1%.
Chrysler reported strong sales for December, and a full-year sales increase of 9%.
Sales were strong across the auto industry in 2013, with automakers selling more than 15 million vehicles in the U.S. -- their best year since 2007.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries sagged, raising yields to 3% from Thursday’s 2.99%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices fell $1.23 to $94.21 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices grew $11.10 to $1,236.30 U.S. an ounce.
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