Toronto's main equity index closed the day deep in the red, dragged down by metals prices as investors shifted away from gold while the U.S. Federal Reserve offered no hints that it would ease monetary policy further.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index sank 159.79 points to 12,377.90.
In the gold sector -- Barrick Gold Corp. was down $2.33 to $42.59 while Agnico Eagle Mines shed $1.50 to $33.41.
Statistics Canada says sales of new cars and trucks rose 15.4% in January to 153,623 units. The agency says, however, that preliminary industry data suggests sales fell 7.0% in February. Passenger car sales rose 23.9% to 71,539 units in January on increased sales of lower-cost vehicles.
In corporate news -- Baytex Energy Corp. more than doubled its fourth-quarter profit, as revenue increased 40% from the same period a year earlier. The Calgary-based oil and gas producer's net income rose to $57.8 million or 48 cents per diluted share. That was up from $21.3 million or 18 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company's revenue jumped 40% to $367.8 million from $263.5 million.
Broker and investment dealer GMP Capital Inc. said net income dropped 95% in the fourth quarter to $2.4 million as troubled market conditions affected its trading operations. Revenue declined 53% to $72.7 million.
The Canadian dollar, meanwhile gained 0.07 of a cent to 101.16 cents US.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange slipped 33.02 points to 1,594.35, while the Nasdaq Canada index shed 4.52 points to 410.57.
Only one of the 14 Toronto subgroups were higher today: financials were up 0.61%.
In the red -- gold stocks were down 3.65%, materials were off 3.34% and mining stocks shed 3.11%.
Gold futures for April delivery fell $51.30 to settle at $1,642.90 an ounce.
ON WALLSTREET
The Dow Jones Industrial Average extended its winning streak to a sixth-consecutive session on Wednesday, finding support from largely positive bank stress tests, but the S&P 500 Index failed to shake off weakness by the close.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 16 points, or 0.1%. The S&P 500 lost 2 point, or 0.2% and the Nasdaq edged up 1 point, or less than 0.1%.
Late Tuesday, the Federal Reserve said most of the nation's largest banks have passed the government's latest test of their financial health.
But the Federal Reserve said Citigroup, Metlife, SunTrust and Ally Financial would likely need new capital from either investors or the government in an adverse economic scenario.
Shares of Apple hit an all-time high Wednesday -- moving closer to $600. The tech darling was boosted by upbeat comments from Wall Street analysts.
In economic news -- the Commerce Department reported that higher fuel prices helped push to February import prices by 0.4% after prices stayed unchanged in the previous month. Import prices were expected to gain 0.6%, according to Thomson Reuters. Export prices rose 0.4%, more than the expected 0.2% gain, after a 0.2% rise the month prior.
Oil for April delivery slipped $1.28 to end at $105.43 a barrel.
The price on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury dropped, pushing the yield up to 2.27% from 2.11% late Tuesday.
