Dec 31 (Reuters) – Canada's main stock index fell in thin trading on Friday, but was on course to mark its best year since 2009 thanks to massive stimulus, COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and hopes of global economic recovery.
At 9:40 a.m. ET (14:40 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) was down 29.96 points, or 0.14%, at 21,264.68, with technology (.SPTTTK) stocks leading losses.
The energy sector (.SPTTEN) climbed 0.2%, even though U.S. crude prices were down 0.9% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 0.8%.
The financials sector (.SPTTFS) slipped 0.2%, while the industrials sector (.GSPTTIN) fell 0.3%.
Limiting losses were healthcare stocks (.GSPTTHC) that gained 0.4%, helped by pot shares Tilray Inc (TLRY.TO), Canopy Growth Corp (WEED.TO), Aurora Cannabis Inc (ACB.TO) rising nearly 2% each.
The materials sector (.GSPTTMT), which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 0.1% as gold futures rose 0.7% to $1,825.6 an ounce.
The benchmark equity index has gained 22% so far this year, with energy stocks surging the most as oil prices rebounded from the pandemic-induced slump on reopening economies.
Healthcare stocks were the weakest as they have lost nearly 22% in 2021 due to tax-loss selling, mostly toward the end of the year.
"Generally speaking, 2021 has been a choppy year for markets. Sector action was very mixed, particularly through the middle part of the year which saw a series of rolling takedowns and rebounds," said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management.
HIGHLIGHTS
The TSX posted one new 52-week highs and no new lows.
Across all Canadian issues, there were 10 new 52-week highs and two new lows, with a total volume of 13.94 million shares.
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