Equity markets in Toronto fell on Tuesday, led by losses for materials and gold stocks following deadly blasts in Brussels.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 59.16 points to greet noon at 13,501.93
The Canadian dollar regained 0.26 cents to 76.59 cents U.S.
Travel-related stocks fell, with Air Canada down 1.9% at $8.99 and Westjet Airlines off 2.9% at $19.45. Canadian National Railway fell 1% to $80.69.
Banks took their lumps, with Royal Bank of Canada falling 0.7% to $74.82 and Bank of Nova Scotia off 0.5% at $63.33.
Gold rallied after the Brussels attacks, helping boost the index's materials group. Barrick Gold advanced 1.7% to $19.53 and Yamana Gold gained 2.9% to $4.22.
The energy group was barely lower, as Veresen advanced 9.7% to $9.49 after the energy company said it would pay a dividend.
The death toll is now up to 34 in attacks on Brussels airport and a rush-hour metro train in the Belgian capital on Tuesday, according to media outlets, triggering security alerts across Europe and bringing some cross-border traffic to a halt.
Tuesday is Federal Budget Day in Canada, and Finance Minister Bill Morneau has promised stimulus spending to boost economic growth. The document will be presented in the House of Commons at 4 p.m. EDT, after the markets close.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 2.19 points to 584.60
All but two of the 13 TSX subgroups lost ground, with materials surrendering 1.2%, industrials down 1.1%, and gold off 0.7%.
The two gainers proved to be health-care, up 0.8%, and energy, inching ahead 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks traded narrowly mixed Tuesday amid news of explosions in Belgium's capital that killed more than 30 people at the airport and metro system.
The Dow Jones Industrials fell 27.29 points to 17,596.58, with Goldman Sachs contributing the most to declines.
The S&P 500 faded 3.35 points to 2,048.25, as health-care led advancers
The NASDAQ index poked ahead 4.19 points to 4,813.06, as Apple gained 1%
Among transport issues, Union Pacific and Delta Air Lines traded about 2% lower or more to lead decliners. Avis Budget, Norfolk Southern and JetBlue were among the few advancers.
Elsewhere, Nike struggled for gains ahead of its earnings report, scheduled for after the close.
In U.S. economic news, domestic home prices rose 0.5% in January on a seasonally-adjusted basis from the previous month, according to FHFA. House prices were up 6% from January 2015 to January 2016.
Markit's flash U.S. manufacturing PMI was 51.4.
Prices for the 10-year Treasury gained ground, lowering yields to 1.89% from Friday’s 1.92%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices remained negative 15 cents a barrel to $41.37 U.S.
Gold prices stayed positive $8.91 to $1,252.61 U.S. an ounce.
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