TORONTO, March 20 (Reuters) - Canada's benchmark stock index retreated on Monday as oil prices fell and heavyweight energy and financial shares lost ground, while the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates pressured defensive sectors, such as telecoms.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE unofficially closed down 48.17 points, or 0.31 percent, at 15,442.32. Eight of the index's 10 main groups ended lower.