By Adriano Marchese


Toronto stocks were firmly lower in midday trading Friday, after closing Thursday 0.04 point higher at a new all-time high. The index has been climbing steadily since its 52-week low in October.

In the session, most sectors were in the red, with communications, health services and consumer durables losing the most. Process industries were the main sector of few gainers, followed more distantly by utilities and industrial services stocks, with hairline gains.

At midday, Canada's S&P/TSX Composite Index was 0.47% lower at 21982.69, and the blue-chip S&P/TSX 60 fell by 0.49% to 1323.84.

Karora Resources reported 2023 production of 160,492 ounces of gold, an increase of 20%, thanks to a 37% increase in gold produced at its Beta Hunt mine in Western Australia. Shares were down 1.3% at 4.71 Canadian dollars ($3.48).


Write to Adriano Marchese at adriano.marchese@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-22-24 1236ET