The TSX was down Thursday, as commodity prices continued to weigh on resource stocks and the uncertainty surrounding Greece's debt situation spooked investors
The S&P/TSX composite index faltered 50.01 points to end the day at 14,897.50
The Canadian dollar regained 0.38 cents to 81.13 cents U.S.
Metals stocks got hit the hardest, as Teck Resources lost 77 cents, or 5.5%, to $13.15, while First Quantum Minerals sagged 92 cents, or 5.1%, to $17.22.
Energy stocks were also down on the day, as EnCana slid 51 cents a share, or 3.5%, to end the session at $14.23, while Penn West Petroleum shares went south seven cents, or 3.1%, to $2.16.
Telecoms provided one of the few bright spots, as Manitoba Telecom Services climbed 15 cents, or 0.5%, to $28.08, and BCE jumped 91 cents, or 4.9%, to $54.50.
Condor Petroleum was the most actively traded stock, gaining half a cent, or 3.2%, to 16 cents, on 13.7 million shares.
Investors are still unsure whether Greece would be able to avert default, given that there has been no progress reached in the country's lengthy discussions with its international creditors. The lenders stood by their previous cash-for-reform proposal, while Greece is sticking to its plan of increasing tax and social contributions to raise funds.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange shed 0.89 points to 679.59
All but two of the 14 TSX subgroups were lower, with metals and mining down 3.7%, global base metals off 3%, and energy sliding 1.9%
The two gainers were telecoms, up 0.5%, and consumer staples, inching up 0.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed near session lows on Thursday, failing to hold initial gains, as lack of resolution between Greece and its creditors weighed on investor sentiment.
The Dow Jones Industrials ducked lower 75.71 points, to 17,890.36, with Caterpillar leading most blue chips lower. UnitedHealth was the greatest of five index advancers.
The S&P 500 index faded 6.26 points to 2,102.32, with energy leading eight sectors lower and telecommunications and health care the only two gainers.
The NASDAQ slipped 10.22 to 5,112.19, amid reports that the meeting between Greece and its creditors was halted "indefinitely."
Nevertheless, the meeting has since resumed. In order to avoid defaulting on its 1.6-billion-euro debt, Greece needs additional financial aid by the end of this month.
Avis Budget Group plunged nearly 5% as the greatest laggard.
In corporate news, BlackBerry announced a 12-million-share common stock buyback program to offset dilution from a new employee stock purchase plan.
Recreational vehicles maker Winnebago and consulting firm Accenture both reported quarterly profits that beat analysts' expectations on the top and bottom lines.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch raised its rating on drug maker Eli Lilly to "buy" from "neutral", on increased estimates for several drugs still in Lilly's pipeline.
BB&T began coverage of apparel retailer L Brands with a "buy" rating, saying the parent of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works has strong management and good brand positioning.
IAC/InterActiveCorp also announced plans to spin off The Match Group, which owns a number of dating sites, including Match.com.
Shares of retailer Kroger closed flat, after spiking more than 1% on its announcement of a 13.5% dividend increase and a two-for-one stock split.
On another note, several hospital stocks, including HCA Holdings, Tenet Healthcare, Community Health Systems and Universal Health Services, also jumped more than 5% Thursday morning after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal subsidies that help nearly 6.4 million people pay for their Obamacare health plans are legal under the Affordable Care Act.
Separately, Humana jumped more than 7% after it was briefly halted for volatility on a report indicating Aetna was close to acquiring the company. Aetna gained nearly 4%.
Investors also kept an eye on U.S. economic data, as weekly jobless claims came in at 271,000, slightly below analyst’ expectations.
U.S. consumer spending also rose 0.9% for the month of May, its largest gain in nearly six years while personal income increased 0.5% last month.
The Services PMI fell from 56 in May to 54.6 in June, showing a slower growth rate in the services sector.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries listed lower, raising yields to 2.40% from Wednesday’s 2.38%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices subtracted 62 cents a barrel to $59.65 U.S.
Gold prices surrendered 80 cents at $1,172.10 U.S. an ounce.
