The energy-rich benchmark index of the Toronto Stock Exchange slumped on Thursday, dragged down by the more than US$2 drop in oil prices.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 90.30 points, or 0.66%, to close at 13,592.91.

For July, the index tumbled just over 6%.

Only three of the TSX 10 main sectors were on the downside Thursday, with the bulk of the losses coming from the energy and materials sectors.

The two groups were down 2.5% and 1.7%, respectively.

Among energy stocks, Suncor Energy was down $2.76, or 4.7%, at $55.66, and Canadian Natural Resources fell $2.57 to $80.01.

A round of quarterly results showed that gold producers were hampered by surging production costs, despite a sharp increase in gold prices.

Goldcorp posted a surprise loss amid steep cost inflation and said it would by Gold Eagle to pick up the Bruce Channel gold discovery. Gold Eagle soared $1.71, or 16.2%, to $12.28, while Goldcorp was down $1.70 at $38.15.

Centerra Gold fell 36¢, or 6.5%, to $5.20 after it said its profit tripled, but it suspended arbitration proceedings while it tries to arrive at a deal with the Kyrgyz government over sharing income from its Kumtor mine.

The financials group was up 0.2%, with CIBC up 74¢, or 1.2%, at $61.98.

Sun Life slipped $2.57 to $39.80 after reporting its profit slid 12% as U.S. business operations were tripped up by a range of factors, from a decline in U.S. equity markets to credit-related losses.

Among individual stocks Rothmans Inc. gained $3.53, or 13.5%, to $29.70 after Philip Morris International said it would buy Canada’s No. 2 cigarette maker for about $2 billion.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index rose 39.87 points, or 1.83%, to 2,224.14 points.

The Canadian dollar slipped 0.11¢ from Wednesday’s close to end at US97.66¢.

In New York, U.S. stocks fell after Exxon Mobil earnings fell short of Wall Street’s expectations and as disappointing economic data revived fears of a U.S. recession.

Government reports showing weaker-than-expected second-quarter growth and a rise in the number of Americans applying for jobless benefits.

The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 205.67 points, or 1.78%, to 11,378.02. The S&P 500 dropped 16.88 points, or 1.31%, to 1,267.38. The Nasdaq composite index slipped 4.17 points, or 0.18%, to 2,325.55.

For the month, the Dow was up 0.25%, while the Nasdaq finished July up 1.42%. The S&P 500 lost 1% in July.

The U.S. employment report for July is due Friday.