(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Thursday, weighed down by energy stocks as oil prices slumped, while pot producer Aphria Inc 's downbeat earnings further dented sentiment.
* The energy sector dropped 2%, weighed down by U.S. crude prices, which fell 3.5% a barrel, and Brent crude, which lost 3.1%, as new COVID-19 restrictions raised concerns over the outlook for economic growth and a recovery in fuel demand. [O/R]
* At 9:40 a.m. ET (13:40 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 130.79 points, or 0.79%, at 16,324.61.
* Aphria Inc fell 13.5%, the most on the TSX, after the pot producer missed estimates for its first-quarter revenue.
* The second biggest decliner was Ballard Power Systems Inc, down 6.6%, after the fuel-cell products developer sold its Unmanned Aerial Vehicle business assets to Honeywell International Inc (NYSE:HON).
* The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 1% as gold futures fell 0.3% to $1,895.5 an ounce. [GOL/]
* On the TSX, 14 issues rose, while 207 issues fell in a 14.79-to-1 ratio favoring losers, with 13.38 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Aritzia Inc (TO:ATZ), which jumped 5.1%, and Lundin Mining Corp (TO:LUN), which rose 0.7%, after multiple brokerages raised the price target on both companies' stock.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Aphria Inc (TO:APHA), Bombardier Inc (TO:BBDb), and Suncor Energy Corp (TO:SU).
* The TSX posted two new 52-week highs and one new low.
* Across all Canadian issues there were six new 52-week highs and six new lows, with total 27.34 million shares traded.
