Canada's main stock index fell on Wednesday to a one-week low as lower commodity prices pressured energy and mining stocks, while insider trading charges sank the shares of Amaya Inc. The energy group fell 3.1 percent, while the materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertiliser companies, tumbled 4.6 percent. Spot gold fell more than 2 percent to a four-week low after hawkish comments by US Federal Reserve officials.
"The capital that had gone into safe havens yesterday has come back out today," said Colin Cieszynski, senior market analyst at CMC Markets Canada. The most influential shares on the Canadian index included Barrick Gold Corp, which fell 7.2 percent to C$17.54. First Quantum Minerals Ltd fell 16.3 percent to C$6.92 and Teck Resources Ltd dropped 13.4 percent to C$9.65, as copper and other metal prices moved lower. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed down 114.01 points, or 0.8 percent, at 13,379.48. It touched its lowest since March 15 at 13,364.98. Seven of the index's 10 main groups ended lower.