The TSX went down Wednesday afternoon, hurt by the continuous decline in copper and oil prices.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed the day down 107.40 points to 13,383.69
The Canadian dollar moved lower 0.39 cents at 74.95 cents U.S.
Economic superpowers U.S. and China both reported on Wednesday disappointing factory activity data, hurting copper and oil prices. China, a huge energy and industrial metal consumer, reportedly said factory activity shrank to a 6.5-year low in September.
Simultaneously, the U.S., Canada's major trading partner, revealed that the growth of the U.S. manufacturing sector remained low in almost two years.
By mid-afternoon, the mining and energy sectors were falling 2.3% and 1.1%, respectively. The heavyweight financials eased 0.6%.
On the positive side, health-care gained 0.4%, and telecoms turned to a modest rise of 0.2%
Bombardier was the most actively traded stock, down 15 cents, or 8.6%, to $1.59, on 8.2 million shares.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada pointed out retail sales rose for the third consecutive month in July, up 0.5% to $43.3 billion.
Sales increased in six of 11 sub-sectors, representing 55% of retail trade. Higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers and clothing and clothing accessories stores accounted for most of the gain.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange remained positive 4.07 points to 545.41
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed mildly lower Wednesday in light volume trade as investors eyed oil and commodity prices, amid weak manufacturing China data.
The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 50.58 points to 16,279.89. United Technologies, Caterpillar and Boeing put the greatest pressure on the Dow.
The S&P 500 dropped 3.98 points to 1,938.76,
The NASDAQ index dipped 3.98 points to 4,752.75. Apple closed up 0.8%, while biotechs closed down 0.8%, extending recent losses.
The Dow remained in correction territory, trading more than 11% away from its 52-week high. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ were about 9% below their 52-week highs. The NASDAQ held mildly higher for 2015. Both the Dow and S&P are negative for the year so far.
Steelcase and Worthington are scheduled to report earnings after the close.
Growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector showed no month-over-month change during September, staying at August's sluggish pace of 53, which was the weakest in almost two years, according to Markit's preliminary U.S. maufacturing PMI for September.
Volkswagen recovered from a recent plunge of more than 30% to hold more than 5% higher in European trade.
Martin Winterkorn resigned as the firm's CEO Wednesday. Last week, news emerged that the automaker had misled authorities over the emissions of its diesel cars.
The preliminary China manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to a six-and-a-half-year low of 47.0 in September, below a 47.5 forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll, data showed.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries faded, raising yields to 2.15% from Tuesday’s 2.14%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices fell $1.64 a barrel to $44.72 U.S.
Gold prices surged $5.40 to $1,130.20 U.S. an ounce.
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