North American stocks were off strongly Wednesday, as rate hike worries on both sides of the border had investors in a bearish mood.

The S&P/TSX composite index sank 200.10 points, or 1.41%, to 13,941.59.

All 10 TSX main sub-groups were down

The energy index fell 1.69%.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery gained 35¢ to US$65.96.

Nexen Inc. fell 81¢, or 2.42%, to $32.67.

Materials index lost 1.36%, and the gold index dropped 1.17%.

Gold for for August delivery fell 50¢ to US$674.60 an ounce.

Hudbay Minerals Inc. fell 16¢, or 0.64%, to $24.70.

Financials group fell 1.34%.

The Canadian dollar resumed its upward climb, gaining 0.45 cent to US94.52 ¢.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index lost 29.93 points, or 0.91%, to 3,249.20.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 129.79 points, or 0.95%, to 13,465.67, the Nasdaq composite index fell 24.05, or 0.92%, to 2,587.18, and the S&P 500 dipped 13.57, or 0.89%, to 1,517.38.