(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Thursday as the country's economic growth stagnated in February due a teacher's strike and the coronavirus pandemic.
The latest GDP data released suggests that a teacher's strike in Ontario and disruption in transportation and warehousing due to the pandemic stagnated the country's economy in February.
* Breaking a four-day rally, the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (GSPTSE) was down 185.46 points, or 1.22%, at 15,042.65 by 09:57 a.m. ET (13:57 GMT).
* Wall Street indexes, meanwhile, fell as weekly jobless claims in the United States continued to climb.
* The energy sector (SPTTEN) traded flat. U.S. crude (CLc1) prices were up 15.1% a barrel, while Brent crude (LCOc1) added 13%.
* The financials sector (SPTTFS) slipped 1.7%, while the industrials sector (GSPTTIN) fell 1.1%.
* On the TSX, 46 issues gained, while 181 issues declined for a 3.93-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 58.37 million shares traded.
* The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Crescent Point Energy Corp (TO:CPG) and Shawcor Ltd (TO:SCL), which jumped 9.4% and 9.2% respectively.
* Gildan Activewear Inc (TO:GIL) fell 10.0%, the most on the TSX, after multiple brokerages cut price target on the stock after its first-qaurter sales fell and on grim forecast.
* The second-biggest decliner was BRP Inc (TO:DOO), down 6.8%.
* The most heavily traded shares by volume were Bombardier Inc (TO:BBDb), up 1%; Baytex Energy Corp (TO:BTE), up 6.8% and Cenovus Energy Inc (TO:CVE), up 2.4%.
* The TSX posted two new 52-week highs and no new lows.
* Across all Canadian issues there were five new 52-week highs and no new lows, with total volume of 95.97 million shares.
