Toronto stocks closed lower on Tuesday despite a decision by the Bank of Canada to leave interest rates unchanged. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 24.73 points at 6,640.61.

Celestica led a slide in technology issues, but a rally among golds helped cushion the broader market’s fall.

The information technology group closed down 3% and the utilities sector slipped nearly 2%

Among tech issues, Celestica finished down $1.31 at $27.80, while Nortel Networks slid 11¢ to $3.48.

Gold-mining stocks ended the session up 6%.

Shares of Barrick Gold rose $1.15 to $23.85, while Placer Dome added 72¢ to $15.55.

Scotiabank shares rose 54¢ to $49.10 after bank reported a higher fourth-quarter profit on the performance of its domestic and international units.

Market momentum was negative as 609 issues declined, 512 advanced and another 180 were unchanged. Volume was robust as 280 million shares worth $3.3 billion changed hands.

The junior TSX Venture Exchange inched up 0.22 of a point to 960.19.In New York, a sour note on stock allocation from Merrill Lynch’s top U.S. strategist also pushed stocks lower.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 84 points, at 8,777. The broader S&P 500 was down 10 points at 924. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index was down 27 points at 1,458.

The Canadian dollar ended slightly softer as the Bank of Canada held the line on interest rates. The loonie finished at US64.23¢ compared with US64.25¢ at Monday’s close.