CANADA STOCKS-TSX falls as US threatens auto tariffs

By Fergal Smith

March 26 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index gave back some recent gains on Wednesday, including declines for technology and metal mining shares, as expected U.S. auto tariffs threatened to widen a global trade war.

Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended down 178.45 points, or 0.7%, at 25,161.06, after notching its highest closing level in nearly one month on Tuesday.

"The market's down because Trump's threatening auto sector tariffs," said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to announce tariffs on imported autos during an event later in the day.

The S&P 500 was down more than 1% ahead of the press conference.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said if the ruling Liberals won an April 28 election, his government would create a C$2 billion ($1.40 billion) fund to boost the auto sector's competitiveness.

The technology sector fell 3.2%, with electronic equipment company Celestica CLS.TO tumbling 9.9%.

The materials group, which includes fertilizer and metal mining shares, was down 1.5%.

U.S. copper futures hit a record high amid rising bets on the level of U.S. import tariffs that may be imposed on the metal.

Shares of First Quantum Minerals FM.TO dropped 5.7% after Panama said it has not authorized visits to the company's shuttered Cobre Panama mine. On Monday, First Quantum announced a program of visits to the mine.

Energy was one of just two major sectors to notch gains, rising 0.6%. The price of oil CLc1 settled 0.9% higher at $69.65 a barrel after a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories.