(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index plummeted on Thursday, prompting a pause in trading as the United States' curbs on travel from Europe due to the coronavirus outbreak hit risk sentiment.
- Trading on the TSX was halted shortly after the open in the wake of humongous losses, resuming at 9:51 a.m. ET. The index sank further after trading resumed.
- At 9:53 a.m. ET (1353 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 1,572.02 points, or 11.02%, at 12,698.07.
- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered travel from Europe to the United States restricted for 30 days, blindsiding investors and prompting a widespread rush out of riskier assets.
- Canada's energy sector dropped 12.4% as U.S. crude prices fell 8.7% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 9.1%. [O/R]
- The financials sector slipped 9.4%. The industrials sector fell 10.6%.
- The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 14.1%.
- No issues rose on the TSX, while 230 issues fell, with 50.33 million shares traded.
- Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund (TO:CHE_u) fell 28.5%, the most on the TSX, while the second-biggest decliner was Hudbay Minerals, down 28.1%.
- The most heavily traded shares by volume were Husky Energy, Aurora Cannabis, and Bombardier B.
- The TSX posted no new 52-week highs and 154 new lows.
- Across all Canadian issues there were 14 new 52-week highs and 669 new lows, with total 92.30 million shares traded.
