TSX Closer: Index Falls as Energy, Health-Care Losses Outweigh Financial Gains; BoC Surveys in Focus

The Toronto Stock Exchange dropped on Monday as as losses in energy, health-care and utility shares outweighed gains in financial and industrial stocks, while investors assessed mixed signals from the Bank of Canada's latest business and consumer surveys. The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed down 62.52 points, or 0.2%, to 35,212.32, with mixed sectors Battery Metals Index led gainers, up 2.56%, with, Industrials, Information and Technology, and Financial, up 0.52%, 0.11%, and 1.08%, respectively. Health Care led decliners, down 2.21%, while Base Metals, down 0.08%, Utilities, down 0.82%, Telecom, down 0.59%, and Energy, down 1.18%. In commodities, gold rose on Monday, climbing to a two-week high as Treasury yields retreated amid easing inflation concerns even as the dollar strengthens. The precious metal for August delivery was last seen up 1% to $4,166.80 per ounce, the highest since June 22. The rise comes as last week's US jobs report showed the labor market is weakening while energy prices are falling, easing concerns the Federal Reserve will need to raise interest rates. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices edged down on Monday, staying near pre-war.