TORONTO, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Canadian stocks ended at
their lowest level in nearly a month on Tuesday, undermining the
big gains they made at the start of the year, as mining and
energy issues slid on a fresh round of euro zone credit
downgrades and on concern about slowing U.S. retail sales.

Market confidence in the U.S. economy slipped after data
showed retail sales rose less than forecast in January as
consumers cut back on car purchases and did less online
shopping. Sales increased 0.4 percent in the month, the Commerce
Department said, less than the 0.7 percent rise expected by
economists polled by Reuters.

TORONTO, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Canadian stocks touched
their lowest point in nearly a month on Tuesday morning with
mining and energy issues leading the way, hit by weak U.S.
retail sales data and a fresh round of euro zone credit
downgrades.

Investor confidence in the U.S. economy took a step back
after data showed retail sales rose less than forecast in
January as consumers cut back on car purchases and did less
online shopping.

TORONTO, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index
ended little changed on Monday as retreating gold issues offset
energy sector gains, preventing Canadian equities from joining
the global rally after Greece approved tough new austerity
measures to win a critical debt bailout.

Most of the TSX’s 10 main sectors were higher, but the gains
were undercut by a weak showing from the world’s largest gold
miner and others in the mining space.

TORONTO, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Canadian stocks were flat
at midday on Monday as energy issues rose after Greece approved
a controversial austerity bill to secure a second bailout, but
the TSX’s gains were held in check as the European Union still
had to approve the deal.

Athens must convince a skeptical euro zone that it will
stick to the terms of the deal in order to secure the 14.5
billion euros it needs to meet debt repayments due on March 20.

TORONTO, Feb 10 (Reuters) – The Canadian dollar’s
sustained run against the greenback hit a speed bump on Friday
after a key bailout deal for Greece met with fresh resistance,
putting the possibility of a disorderly default back on the
table.

Just 24 hours after Athens agreed to tough wage and pension
cuts demanded by international lenders, the deal looked set to
collapse after euro zone leaders imposed further conditions on
Greece to receive its next rescue package and the country’s
far-right leader said he could not vote in favour of the deal.

TORONTO, Feb 10 (Reuters) – The Canadian dollar
slumped on Friday against its U.S. counterpart after a bailout
deal for Greece met with fresh opposition, but the currency’s
slide was tempered by data that showed Canada’s trade surplus
unexpectedly rose to a three-year high in December.

Overnight the Canadian dollar had fallen below parity with
the greenback for the first time in more than a week after the
leader of a far-right party in Greece’s coalition government
said he could not back a recently negotiated debt bailout
agreement, reigniting worries about a chaotic default.

TORONTO, Feb 9 (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index
ended lower on Thursday as it brushed off optimism generated by
a long-awaited Greek bailout deal and strong U.S. jobs data, and
moved instead on some weak earnings in the financial and telecom
sectors.

The TSX has rallied more than 4 percent so far this year,
after ending 2011 down more than 11 percent, thanks largely to a
slowly improving U.S. economy and the absence of further bad
news from Europe.

TORONTO, Feb 9 (Reuters) – Canada’s main stock index
was little changed at midday on Thursday as losses among
financial issues offset gains in mining shares after Greek
leaders clinched a highly anticipated debt deal.

Greece’s agreement to adopt new austerity measures was
expected to pave the way for a 130 billion euro ($172 billion)
aid package that may help it avoid a disorderly default that
would spillover into global financial markets.

TORONTO, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Canadian stocks closed
little changed on Wednesday as hopes for a Greek debt deal
lifted financial shares, which were offset by losses among
miners after some discouraging European economic data.

Marathon negotiations between Greece and its creditors to
secure a 130-billion-euro ($172 billion) bailout that would
ensure Athens can cover massive bond redemptions that come due
next month failed to yield a deal.

TORONTO, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Canadian stocks were lower
on Wednesday with energy shares taking a hit from a report that
showed U.S. crude inventories rose last week and overall
sentiment weakening as the outcome of Greek debt negotiations
remained in flux.

Oil and gas shares fell after data from the U.S. Energy
Information Administration showed oil inventories rose, which
countered news of a large drop reported by industry body
American Petropleum Institute (API) on Tuesday.