(Adds analyst quotes and details on global gold mining sub-sector, updates prices)
* TSX closes down 16.03 points, or 0.11 percent, at 14,923.01
* Just four of the TSX's 10 main groups end lower
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Monday as lower oil and gold prices weighed on energy and mining shares and as Restaurant Brands International Inc QSR.TO declined after reporting quarterly earnings.
The modest loss for the index follows its highest close on Friday in 16 months. The index has rallied 29 percent since hitting a three-year low in January.
Low interest rates and still positive economic growth are supportive of a market that has been grinding higher. But investors have a "whole bunch of excuses" not to trade between now and year-end, including the U.S. presidential election, the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday and Federal Reserve interest rate decisions, said Paul Hand, managing director at RBC Capital Markets.
Shares of Restaurant Brands International fell 4.5 percent to C$59.80. The owner of Burger King and Tim Hortons reported a second straight quarter of decline in comparable sales at Burger King in the United States and Canada. biggest drags on the index included some of the country's major energy pipeline companies.
Enbridge Inc ENB.TO fell 0.9 percent to C$58.22 and TransCanada Corp TRP.TO declined 1.4 percent to C$61.94, while the overall energy group was down 0.6 percent as oil prices fell.
U.S. crude oil futures CLc1 settled 33 cents lower at $50.52 a barrel, pressured by news of the impending restart of Britain's Buzzard oilfield. O/R
The materials group lost 0.9 percent as gains for fertilizer companies were overshadowed by losses for gold stocks.
Barrick Gold fell 2.1 percent to C$22.09, while spot gold XAU= was down 0.2 percent as the U.S. dollar .DXY reached a nearly nine-month high against a basket of major currencies.
"The golds are sloppy. They have been for a while for now," Hand said.
The global gold mining sub-sector .SPTTGD fell 1.9 percent. It had gained steadily since the beginning of the year, but has faltered since August.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE closed down 16.03 points, or 0.11 percent, at 14,923.01.
Just four of the index's 10 main groups ended lower.
Toronto-Dominion Bank TD.TO and TD Ameritrade are buying Scottrade Financial Services for $4 billion in a deal that would combine two of the biggest U.S. discount brokerages, the companies said. of Toronto-Dominion Bank rose 0.3 percent to C$60.16, while the overall financials group firmed 0.2 percent.
Among other groups that gained ground, consumer staples rose 0.5 percent and information technology was up 0.8 percent.