The Toronto Stock Exchange’s main index fell sharply Tuesday dragged down by falling resource issues.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 282.22 points, or 1.92%, at 14,409.60 with all 10 of its main sectors lower.

The heavyweight energy sector tumbled 3.2% even though as the price oil finally settled up 26¢ at US$137.00 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

On the TSX, Canadian Natural Resources dropped $3.60, or 3.5%, to $100.10, while Suncor Energy fell $3.67, or 5.7%, at $61.31.

The resource-laden materials sector was down 2.1%. Potash Corp of Saskatchewan fell $9.90, or 4.1%, at $229.99.

The consumer discretionary and staples groups gave up 1.1% and 1.4% respectively.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index fell 43.93 points, or 1.69%, to close at 2,559.68.

The Canadian dollar rose 0.42 of a cent to close at US98.86¢.

In New York, U.S. stocks fell after a report showed consumer confidence hit a 16-year low.

Trading volume was again thin ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate announcement due Wednesday afternoon. Most analysts expect the Fed to keep rates on hold.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 34.93 points, or 0.29%, to close at 11,807.43. The S&P 500 was down 3.71 points, or 0.28%, at 1,314.29, while the Nasdaq composite index shed 17.46 points, or 0.73%, to end at 2,368.28.