Canada's main stock index pointed slightly downward midday Wednesday, as worries of global economic slowdown curbed investor appetite for risk.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell back into the red 28.1 points to greet noon at 16,127.06
The Canadian dollar docked 0.19 cents at 74.54 cents U.S.
Among the largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Brookfield Property Partners L.P. which jumped a dollar, or 3.7%, to $27.77
Iamgold Corp, meanwhile, dipped three cents by noon, to 4.94.
Cronos Group Inc fell $3.06, or 11.3%, the most on the TSX, to $24.00, after Canaccord Genuity downgraded the cannabis company's stock to "sell".
The second biggest decliner was Meg Energy Corp, down 18 cents, or 3.3%, to $5.29.
In macroeconomic news, Statistics Canada reported that average weekly earnings were $1,012 in January, little changed from the previous month. Compared with 12 months earlier, earnings grew by 2.0%.
Moreover, the agency said, Canada's trade deficit shrank slightly to $4.25 billion in January, the second highest on record, as low crude prices continued to eat into the value of exports,
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange subtracted 0.86 points to 633.76
Eight of the 12 Toronto subgroups were positive to begin the day, with consumer staples and real-estate each up 0.6%, and consumer discretionary issues ahead 0.5%.
The four laggards were weighed most by health-care, sliding 0.9%, gold, down 0.8%, and materials, off 0.4%.
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks south of the border fell on Wednesday, tracking bond yields, as worries over a possible economic slowdown lingered.
The Dow Jones Industrials tumbled 197.91 Wednesday noon, to 25,459.82
The S&P 500 faded 28.84 points, or 1%, to 2,789.62
The NASDAQ Composite sank 104.64 points to 7,586.88
Health-care and tech shares lagged as the sectors both dropped more than 1%. The energy and communications services sectors also fell more than 1%.
Shares of WellCare Health Plans surged more than 10% after announcing it would sell itself to Centene for $15.27 billion in a cash-and-stock deal. Centene shares, meanwhile, dropped 9%.
The U.S. trade deficit fell to $51.15 billion in January, much more than was expected and could give a boost to this quarter's GDP.
Prices for the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury climbed, lowering yields to 2.37% from Tuesday’s 2.42%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices swooned 63 cents to $59.31 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slid $3.40 to $1,311.60 U.S. an ounce.
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