The benchmark index of the Toronto Stocks Exchange posted a triple-digit loss Tuesday, led lower by heavyweight energy and financial issues.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 184.31 points, or 2.04 percent, at 8,831.86.

All 10 of the TSX’s main sectors were lower.

The financial sector dropped 2.75% amid a report that the International Monetary Fund was set to forecast US$4 trillion in toxic assets on banks’ books.

Royal Bank shed 80¢ to $37.40 while Manulife Financial lost 55 cents to $16.16 .

The May crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange gave back US$1.90 to US$49.15 a barrel, taking the TSX energy sector 2.75% lower.

EnCana Corp. gave back $2.04 to $52.84 and Canadian Natural Resources dropped $2.02 to $51.47.

Shares in Canadian auto parts makers were lower even as Ottawa pledged to help the sector.

Industry Minister Tony Clement said that Export Development Canada will be authorized to provide an additional $700 million to insure accounts receivable at Canada’s auto parts suppliers.

Magna International declined $1.61 to $39.46 while Linamar Corp. slipped 21¢ to $2.79.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index slipped 10.69 points, or 1.1%, to finish at 952.48 points.

The Canadian dollar gained 0.03 of a cent to close at US80.79¢.

In New York, stocks fell on earnings jitters as aluminum producer prepared to kick of the Q1 earnings season,

Earnings for S&P 500 companies are expected to fall by 36.9%, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 186.29 points, or 2.34%, to 7,789.56. The S&P Index lost 19.93 points, or 2.39%, to 815.55. The Nasdaq Composite Index gave up 45.10 points, or 2.81%, at 1,561.61.

After the bell, Alcoa posted a US$497 million loss in the first quarter, compared with a profit of US$303 million a year earlier.

IE