(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was set for its sharpest one-day fall in about four months on Monday, as investors fled risky assets on growing fears over the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak in China.
At 09:46 a.m. ET (14:46 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 0.87% at 17,413.07.
Canada's first "presumptive" confirmed case of the novel coronavirus was disclosed by Canada's chief medical officer on Sunday.
Leading declines among major sectors was a 2% drop in energy stocks, which tracked a slide in oil prices as the virus outbreak threatened to hit fuel demand.
U.S. crude prices were down 2.3% a barrel, while Brent crude lost 2.3%. [O/R]
The financials sector slipped 0.9%, while the industrials sector fell 0.8%.
The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.4%.
On the TSX, 48 issues were higher, while 182 issues declined for a 3.79-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 28.51 million shares traded.
The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were Torex Gold Resources Inc, which jumped 2.7% and Saputo Inc, which rose 1.5%.
Ballard Power Systems Inc fell 7.4%, the most on the TSX. The second biggest decliner was First Quantum Minerals Ltd, down 6.5%.
The most heavily traded shares by volume were Bombardier, Aurora Cannabis and Baytex Energy Co.
The TSX posted seven new 52-week highs and four new lows.
Across all Canadian issues there were 43 new 52-week highs and 20 new lows, with total volume of 53.15 million shares.