Stocks in Toronto were little changed on Wednesday as broad gains in financials and other major sectors were offset by weakness in shares of energy companies.
The S&P/TSX composite index hesitated 20.77 points to open Wednesday at 13,390.86.
The Canadian dollar grew 0.2 cents at 75.53 cents U.S.
A decline in oil prices, with U.S. crude dropping 1.2% fueled the retreat in the energy sector.
Suncor Energy Inc lost 52 cents, or 1.3% to $38.59, and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd gave back 56 cents, or 1.7%, to $31.91.
Investors also processed mixed economic data from China. While industrial production growth in the world's second-biggest economy slowed in October, retail sales grew in the same period.
In the financial services sector, Bank of Montreal shuffled off three cents to $76.66 but Royal Bank of Canada fell 19 cents, or 0.3%, to $75.86.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange inched up 0.32 points to 531.82
Eight of the 13 TSX subgroups had gained ground as the first hour wound to a close, as health-care spiked 1.1%, information technology improved 0.7%, and real-estate gained 0.3%.
The five laggards were weighed mostly by metals and mining, down 2.3%, energy, the worse by 1.8%, and industrials off 0.5%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded in a range Wednesday as investors eyed several consumer-related reports ahead of Friday's key retail sales data.
The Dow Jones industrial average slid 22.52 points to 17,735.69, with Wal-Mart leading decliners and General Electric the greatest advancer.
The S&P 500 dropped 1.42 points to 2,080.30, with energy leading five sectors lower and utilities the greatest advancer.
The NASDAQ index skidded 6.08 points to 5,077.17,
Macy's fell more than 13% in morning trade, on track for its worst day in more than seven years.
The retailer cut full-year sales and profit forecasts, and posted a surprise drop in quarterly same-store sales as customers cut back on spending and the strong dollar pressured revenue from tourists.
JC Penney held more than 4% lower, after briefly jumping more than 2.5% in pre-market trade. The firm said it is "pleased" with its third-quarter results and said comparable same-store sales rose 6.4%, which topped FactSet expectations of 5.7%. JC Penney also announced the settlement of a false advertising class action lawsuit ahead of its earnings report, due Friday.
Apple fell more than 1%, extending Tuesday's declines
Analysts also kept an eye on Singles' Day sales in China, the local version of Black Friday hosted primarily by Alibaba every Nov. 11.
Halfway into the shopping event, the e-commerce giant said gross merchandise volume already surpassed last year's record of $9.3 billion U.S.
Shares of Alibaba held more than 2% lower in morning trade.
The bond market in the U.S. was closed for Veterans’ Day
Oil prices dipped 60 cents a barrel to $43.61 U.S.
Gold prices fell $3.47 to $1,086.20 U.S. an ounce.
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