The Toronto stock market shed more than 70 points in a broad selloff on Wednesday.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 71.95 points points, or 0.5%, to close at 13,683.28.

All but one the 10 TSX 10 subgroups lost ground, including financials, which lost 0.48%, and materials, which gave up 0.65%.

Energy was the sole advancer as it eked out a 0.09% gain.

Among the energy issues advancing, Suncor Energy rose 70¢, or 0.7%, to close at $96.51.

Earlier, U.S. reports showed a plunge in pending home sales, the slowest rise in private-sector employment in four years and a surge in layoffs.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index fell 30.26 points, or 1.13%, to 2,645.02.

Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada said it would keep its key interest rate on hold as expected, and suggested it may stay on the sidelines if the credit market turmoil slows Canada’s growth.

In New York, stocks fell after reports showed the housing slump was deepening and spreading to the job market while slowing consumer spending.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 143.39 points, or 1.07%, at 13,305.47. The S&P 500 was down 17.13 points, or 1.15%, at 1,472.29. The Nasdaq composite index was down 24.29 points, or 0.92%, at 2,605.95.