Toronto stocks declined Tuesday, as indications that the housing market might be cooling placed investors in a bearish mood.

The S&P/TSX composite index finished down 64.96 points , or 0.61%, to 10,616.22.

Volume on the senior exchange was 254 million shares.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in October was 206,700, down from 229,600 units in September.

Nine of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were down, with only the energy sector finishing in positive territory, up 0.25%.

A barrel of light crude settled at US$59.71, down 24¢, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. EnCana Corp. gained 15¢, or 0.28%, to $53.85.

The financial sector fell 0.71%. Bank of Nova Scotia lost 31¢, or 0.71%, to $43.39.

In earnings news, Rona Inc. announced a $53 million profit in the third quarter, a rise of 22%. The hardware retailer’s shares fell $1.02, or 4.43%, to $22.00.

In corporate news, Magna International Inc. reported an increase in third-quarter profit to $159 million from $132 million a year earlier. Shares fell $2.53, or 2.99%, to $82.05.

Alcan Inc. reported profits of $81 million in the latest quarter, a drop of 50%. Shares fell 9¢, or 0.21%, to $41.95.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index edged up 2.54 points, or 0.13%, to finish at 2,032.87.

In New York, investors sold on a forecast of lower sales from home builder Toll Brothers, raising fears of a decline in consumer spending.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 46.51 points, or 0.44%, to 10,539.72, after four days of gains. The S&P500 index slipped 4.22, or 0.35%, to 1,218.59, and the Nasdaq composite index lost 6.17, or 0.28%, to 2,172.07.