Toronto stocks retreated slightly Monday, as energy and financial indexes were down, offsetting a strong day in the materials sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 32.62 points, or 0.27%, to 12,078.52.

Nine of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were down, with only the materials group posting a positive day, up 1.12%.

Gold futures rallied to a three-week high, closing up $6.90 at US$56.407 an ounce.

Goldcorp Inc. gained $1.08, or 3.37%, to $33.09.

Crystallex International Corp. said it had received approvals from the Venezuelan mines ministry that should soon lead to development of the Las Cristinas gold project. Crystallex shares were up 77¢, or 21.04%, to $4.43.

The energy index fell back 0.52%. The benchmark May crude contract closed down10¢ at US$64.16 a barrel.

Suncor Energy Inc. fell 0.93¢, or 1.05%, to $87.57.

Tim Hortons was off $1.44, or 4.35%, to $31.66 after its much-anticipated IPO on Friday

The Canadian dollar was down 0.01 of a cent at US85.57 cents.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index gained 31 points, or 1.13%, to 2,770.56.

In New York, markets were mixed as investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate announcement tomorrow afternoon.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 29.86 points at 11,250.11. The Nasdaq composite index added 2.76 points to 2,315.58. The S&P 500 fell 1.34 point to 1,301.61.

Analysts say the Fed is expected to announce a quarter-point hike in rates, what would be its 15th-consecutive hike.