Jan 21, 2021 (Baystreet.ca via COMTEX) -- Stocks in Toronto tumbled off their once-lofty perch Thursday, weighed heavily by energy and gold issues.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index faltered 98.71 points to close Thursday at 17,916.20
The Canadian dollar dropped 0.01 cents to 79.18 cents U.S.
Energy took most of the bruising, as Tourmaline Oil dropped 82 cents, or 0.4%, to $20.09, while Enerplus docked 17 cents, or 3.7%, to $4.42.
Among gold stocks, NovaGold fell 29 cents, or 2.5%, to $11.39, while Sandstorm Gold slid 22 cents, or 2.5%, to $8.47.
In health-care, Aurora Cannabis lost 50 cents, or 3.4%, to $14.11, while Aphria dropped 48 cents, or 2.9%, to $16.02.
Utilities fought against the negatives, though, with Boralex gaining $1.52, or 2.9%, to $53.83, while Innergex acquired 88 cents, or 2.9%, to $31.18.
In the communications field, Cogeco Communications added $1.79, or 1.7%, to $104.97, while Rogers picked up 60 cents, or 1%, to $60.70.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported growth in new home prices slowed for the third consecutive month, rising 0.3% in December compared with November.
The agency also reports that despite the recent slowdown, new home prices were up 4.6% year over year in December.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dropped 10.52 points, or 1.1%, to pause for lunch at 935.63.
All but two of the 12 TSX subgroups were in the red Thursday, as energy slid 1.7%, gold settled 1.3%, and health-care ailed 1.1%.
The two gainers were utilities, adding 0.6%, and communications, up 0.3%.
