Toronto stocks fell below the 12,000-point plateau Monday, driven lower by a retreating energy sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index lost 71.41, or 0.60%, to 11.929.32, after two sessions above 12,000 points, including a record close last Thursday of 12,085.65.

Half of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were down, with the energy sector giving back 2.51%.

The benchmark crude oil contract ended down $2.35, or 3.7%, at US$60.42 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, largely on reports of above-average U.S. inventory levels.

EnCana Corp. fell $2.18, or 3.94%, to $53.09.

Centurion Energy Int’l ended up 84¢, or 6.43%, to $13.91 after Shell agreed to buy up to half of the firm’s exploration properties in Egypt.

The materials sector fell 0.29%, despite the futures contract for gold falling $1 to US$556.10.

Bema Gold Corp. gained 6¢, or 1.18%, to $5.16.

The Canadian dollar was down 0.16 of a cent at US86.13¢.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index finished up 10.60, or 0.40%, to 2,675.33.

In New York, markets were mixed as investors awaited a speech from U.S. Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday night to see if there would be any indications about the Fed’s interest rate strategy.

The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 5.12 points to 11,274.53, the Nasdaq was up 7.63 points to 2,314.11 while the S&P 500 fell 2.17 points to 1,305.08.