Toronto stocks were lower Tuesday as retreating oil prices continued to pressure energy issues. At midday, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 26.91 points, or 0.30%, at 8,798.82 on light volume of 120 million shares.

Investors seem to be unwilling to be in the market until after U.S. Federal Reserve releases its decision on interest rates tomorrow. Most analysts expect a quarter-point rate increase.

The TSX energy group was the biggest loser again today, dropping 0.53% as oil prices slid further on easing concerns of supply shortages.

Encana was down 62¢, or 1%, to $60.80, while Suncor Energy was down 59¢, or 1.47%, at $39.56.

Technology stocks were down 0.6%. in Research In Motion shares slid $2.45, or 2.65%, to $90.20. A ruling on a patent infringement case involving RIM, which is expected soon, may hurt the company.

CGI Group shares rose 13¢, or 1.65%, to $8.03 after the computer consulting company posted a surge in fourth-quarter profits.

Shares of ATI Technologies slipped 8¢ to $21.74 after the company said chairman K.Y. Ho plans to sell 40% of his holdings. Ho’s shares are to be sold by next June 30.

The TSX materials group was up 0.11%. Shares in mining giant Teck Cominco rose 80¢, or 2.66%, to $30.92, following last night’s announcement that CIBC World Markets president Donald Lindsay will become the firm’s president on January 1 and will be groomed for the job of chief executive.

In other news affecting the company, a U.S. judge today rejected the company’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit accusing it of polluting the Columbia River for decades.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index edged down 1.85 points at midday to 1,625.42.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was off 14.97 points to 10,376.34 at midday.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was 3.58 points lower at 2,035.67, while the broader S&P 500 slipped 1.54 points to 1,163.35.

U.S. wholesale inventories climbed 0.5% in September, the Commerce Department said today. Economists had expected a 0.7% increase. Wholesale sales rose 0.6%

Shares in Marsh & McLennan fell 1.6% to US$26.92 after the firm posted sharply lower third-quarter earnings. The troubled insurance broker plans to cut 3,000 jobs.