CANADA STOCKS-TSX falls to one-week low as oil prices slide

By Fergal Smith

Dec 16 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell for the third straight session on Tuesday as energy stocks followed oil prices lower and investors locked in profits heading toward the end of the year.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index .GSPTSE ended down 219.51 points, or 0.7%, at 31,263.93, its lowest closing level since last Tuesday.

"We've got a bit of selling pressure at year end and it's been an extremely positive year for the most part," said Michael Sprung, president at Sprung Investment Management.

The index has climbed 26.4% since the beginning of 2025, putting it on track for its biggest advance since 2009.

Wall Street's main indexes also slipped on Tuesday as investors evaluated delayed U.S. jobs data that showed the unemployment rate rising to a four-year high of 4.6%.

"I don't think those jobs are going to be filled too quickly in the new year," Sprung said. "Companies are looking for ways to scale back."

The Toronto market's energy sector .SPTTEN lost 3.7% as oil CLc1 settled 2.7% lower at $55.27 a barrel. Prospects of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal appeared to strengthen, raising expectations sanctions could be eased.

Technology was down 0.9% and the materials group, which includes metal mining shares, ended 0.6% lower.

Healthcare was among the sectors that notched gains, rising 6.7%, as the potential for a U.S. executive order that would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug boosted cannabis stocks. Curaleaf Holdings Inc CURA.TO shares jumped 23.4% to their highest closing level since May 2024.

NFI Group Inc NFI.TO was another standout. It climbed 12.3% after the bus and coach manufacturer announced a battery recall agreement with XALT Energy.