Canada's main stock index fell on Monday, weighed by losses in energy companies and as investors fled riskier assets to take refuge in gold amid worsening global economy. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index was down 60.5 points, or 0.43 percent, at 13,874.94. TSX, which was down for its fourth straight session, fell to its lowest level in over two-and-a-half years.
All but one of the index's 11 major sectors were lower, with energy sector lead losers by shedding 0.9 percent, and only the material sector gained.
Weighing on energy stocks was a decline in oil prices, which were in line with another fall across global stock markets.
US crude prices were down 1.5 percent, while Brent crude lost 0.6 percent.
The materials sector, housing precious metal miners, added 0.7 percent after the price of gold rose as global growth fears boosted the appeal of the metal viewed as a safer bet.
On the TSX, 66 issues were higher, while 168 issues declined for a 2.55-to-1 ratio to the downside, with traded volumes touching 15.91 million shares.
Top percentage gainer on the TSX was shares of Spin Master Corp, which climbed 6.2 percent after BMO raised its rating for the company's stock to "outperform".
Second biggest percentage gainer was shares of gold miner OceanaGold Corp, which rose 3.9 percent along with a gain in the price of gold.
Cascades Inc fell 11.9 percent, the most on the TSX, followed by a 4.8 percent decline in Aurora Cannabis .
The most heavily traded shares by volume were of Aurora Cannabis and Aphria Inc.
The TSX posted one new 52-week high and 56 new lows.
Across all Canadian issues, there were eight new 52-week highs and 233 new lows, with total volume touching 25.97 million shares.