The benchmark index of the Toronto Stock Exchange closed lower Monday for the first time in three sessions as falling oil prices dragged down energy shares.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 20.17 points, or 0.2%, at 10,549.12, after falling as much as 188 points earlier in the day.

Energy stocks fell 1% as crude oil for July delivery shed 35¢ to end at US$68.09 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In Toronto, shares of Suncor Energy ended down 1.85% at $37.76, while Canadian Natural Resources dropped 1.3% to $63.88

A 0.5% gain in the financials group offset some of the weakness in energy shares.

Royal Bank of Canada ended up 1.3% at $46.09, while Toronto-Dominion Bank followed with a gain of 1.2% to $58.83.

Gold for June delivery fell UUS$10, or 1%, to end at $951.70 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, as the U.S. dollar continued to strengthen against the euro.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index slipped 6.17 points, or 0.5%, to close at 1,131.82.

The Canadian dollar edged up 0.17¢ to end at US89.54¢.

In New York, U.S. indices reversed earlier losses to finish flat.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 1.44 points, to close at 8764.57, up 1.44 points. The broader S&P 500 slipped 0.95 of a point, or 0.1% to finish at closed at 939.14. The Nasdaq composite index fell 7.02 points, or 0.4%, to finish at 1,842.40.

IE