Equities Bruised

Canada's main stock index fell on Tuesday, as weakness in crude dragged energy shares lower, while caution prevailed ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate decision this week.

The TSX trudged lower 284.57 points, or 1.4%, to pause for lunch Tuesday at 20,330.53.

The Canadian dollar shrank 0.38 cents to 73.39 cents U.S.

Consumer discretionary were powered by a 72-cent gain in Restaurant Brands International to $96.34, after the company beat expectations for first-quarter revenue and profit, boosted by higher traffic and prices at Tim Hortons restaurants.

Among other major movers, Colliers International Group slumped $13.18, or 9.3% to $129.13, after the investment management company missed first-quarter profit estimates.

Thomson Reuters posted higher sales and profit in the first quarter, and said it plans a deeper investment in artificial intelligence. Shares of the news and information company gathered 34 cents to $179.41.

BlackBerry added 37 cents, or 7%, to $5.63 after the company said it would conduct a review of strategic alternatives, which could include the possible separation of its one or more businesses.

ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange faded 3.73 points to 604.92.

All but three of the 12 TSX subgroups lost ground, as energy paled 4.8%, real-estate lost 2.1%, and financials off 1.8%.

The gainers were in gold, picking up 3.2%, and materials, progressing 0.9%, and information technology, nicking up 0.1%.

ON WALLSTREET

Stocks fell sharply Tuesday, led lower by declines in bank shares, as traders braced for the latest Federal Reserve policy announcement.

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The Dow Jones Industrials plunged 554.34 points, or 1.6%, to 33,497.33.

The S&P 500 dipped 71.06 points, or 1.7%, to 4,096.83.

The NASDAQ Composite let go of 188.72 points, or 1.6%, to 12,023.88.

Small and large banks fell, as traders questioned the future of some regional financial institutions after the crisis that engulfed Wall Street in March. Regional banks PacWest and Western Alliance had trading paused after tumbling more than 20%.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase’s shares shed 1%, giving back some of its gains from the previous session. A day earlier, JPMorgan shares rose after the takeover of embattled regional First Republic Bank. Other large banks including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Citigroup also dropped more more than 2.5%.

Elsewhere, fresh numbers from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for March showed signs of a loosening job market.

Employment openings hit their lowest levels since April 2021. Orders for manufactured goods in March grew 0.9%, falling below expectations of a 1.3% increase

Earnings season also continues this week, with Apple scheduled to announce its quarterly performance on Thursday.

Prices for the 10-year Treasury shot up, lowering yields to 3.43% from Monday’s 3.58%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Oil prices skidded $3.49 to $72.17 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices regained $31.20 to $2,023.40U.S. an ounce.