The Toronto Stock Exchange's  S&P/TSX fell 49.40 points, or 0.30 percent, to 16,525.43.

Leading the index were New Gold Inc, up 8.6 percent, Eldorado Gold Corp, up 5.7 percent, and Ero Copper Corp, higher by 5.1 percent.

Lagging shares were Canopy Growth Corp, down 7.6 percent, Brookfield Business Partners LP, down 5.9 percent, and Torex Gold Resources Inc, lower by 5.1 percent.

On the TSX 87 issues rose and 142 fell as a 0.6-to-1 ratio favored decliners. There were 18 new highs and 1 new low, with total volume of 490.3 million shares.

The most heavily traded shares by volume were New Gold Inc, Kinross Gold Corp and Bombardier Inc.

The TSX's energy group fell 1.12 points, or 0.8 percent, while the financials sector slipped 0.82 points, or 0.3 percent.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 1.02 percent, or $0.59, to $57.66 a barrel. Brent crude  rose 1.41 percent, or $0.91, to $65.36 [O/R]

The TSX is up 15.4 percent for the year.