Canada's main stock index ended the trading day in negative territory on Monday as sector-level weakness in Telecoms, Mining and Materials exerted downward pressure across the board. At the close in Toronto, the S&P/TSX Composite had declined 0.79%.
Among individual movers, Bausch Health Companies Inc (TSX:BHC) was the session's strongest performer, jumping 14.47% - a gain of 1.22 points - to close at 9.65. Energy name Baytex Energy Corp (TSX:BTE) also posted a solid advance, adding 6.50% or 0.39 points to finish at 6.39. Apparel maker Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSX:GIL) rose 5.77%, up 4.23 points to 77.60 in late trading.
At the other end of the board, Telus Corp (TSX:T) registered the largest decline, falling 11.27% or 1.70 points to close at 13.38. The drop pushed Telus to five-year lows at the close. TerraVest Industries Inc (TSX:TVK) slipped 7.92%, a loss of 9.82 points, to end the session at 114.23, while Eldorado Gold Corp (TSX:ELD) was down 7.80% or 3.58 points to 42.31.
Market breadth showed more decliners than advancers on the Toronto Stock Exchange, with the report noting that "Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Toronto Stock Exchange by 0 to 0."
Volatility, as measured by the S&P/TSX 60 VIX, moved higher, increasing 0.54% to 14.97, signaling a modest rise in implied option volatility on the index.
Commodities displayed mixed action during the session. Gold Futures for December delivery were up 0.11% or 4.32 to $4,111.32 a troy ounce. In contrast, crude oil softened notably: September delivery for U.S. crude fell 5.50% or 4.66 to trade at $80.01 a barrel, and the October Brent contract declined 4.98% or 4.38 to $83.55 a barrel.
On the currency front, CAD/USD was unchanged 0.20% to 0.71, while CAD/EUR was unchanged 0.02% to 0.62. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.05% at 99.84.
Market snapshot and selected indicators referenced in the session: DX+0.06% GC-0.08% LCO-4.81% CL+0.02% GSPTSE-0.79% BTE+6.5% ELD-7.8% GIL+5.77% T-11.27% TVK-7.92% VIXI+0.54%