TORONTO, March 24 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index
ended lower on Thursday as banking stocks retreated amid
increasing chatter from U.S. central bankers about hiking
interest rates, while a recovery in crude oil prices helped
energy stocks gain.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index
.GSPTSE unofficially closed down 21.37 points, or 0.16
percent, at 13,358.11. The index, which will be closed on
Friday, lost 1 percent on the shortened week.