Toronto stocks fell Friday, ending a six-day winning streak. The S&P TSX composite index closed down 75.33 points to 7,717.47.

For the week, the benchmark index gained 1.1%

Investors shrugged off news that the U.S. consumer confidence improved in October. The University of Michigan’s mid-month index of consumer sentiment rose to 89.4 in October, beating economists’ forecasts of a rise to 88.0.

U.S. housing data for September was also positive.

The TSX information technology sector fell 2.8% and the heavily weighted financial services slipped 0.71%.

Insurer Sun Life Financial fell 60¢, or 1.82%, to $32.40, TD Bank was down 54¢, or 1.26%, at $42.35 and Bank of Montreal shed 58¢, or 1.17%, at $48.90.

The materials group fell 1.65%, weighed down by gold-mining stocks, which were off 2.12%.

In earnings news, Rogers Communications posted an 11% increase in revenues as it cut its third-quarter loss to $17.4 million. Rogers shares finished up 8¢ to $19.95.

Shares of Zarlink Semiconductor got beat up in Friday morning trading, after the company reported a Q2 loss said its current quarter revenues will be flat. The stock fell 23.4%, dropping $1.25 cents to $4.10.

Higher prices for nickel and copper helped Falconbridge turn around its bottom line in third quarter.

The firm posted a profit of US$21.3 million compared with a loss of US$15 million a year earlier. Falconbridge shares closed down 65¢ at $22.65

Bombardier shares slipped 19¢ to $6.03. The company announced Thursday it will consolidate the manufacture of its Learjet and Challenger business jets in Wichita, Kansas and Dorval, Quebec — a move it said would save $33 million a year.

In other business news, Camco will close its Hamilton, Ont., appliance manufacturing and warehouse facility in Dec. 2004, putting 800 people out of work. Camco shares plunged 20% to $1.75.

TSX volume was 217 million shares worth $2.6 billion and momentum was decidedly negative with 721 issues declining and 464 advancers.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index edged down 1,28 points to 1,435.60.

U.S. stocks slumped on disappointing business forecasts from companies like online auctioneer Ebay led investors to lock in profits from this week’s run-up
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The Dow Jones industrial average lost 69.93 points to 9,721.79. The broad S&P 500 fell 10.75 points to 1,039.32. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index (dropped 37.78 points to 1,912.36.

For the week, the Dow rose 0.49% and the S&P 500 added 0.12%.. The Nasdaq slipped 0.15% for the week.

The Canadian dollar closed above the US76¢ level, rising 0.18 of a cent to 76.05¢.