Article content

Canada’s main stock index fell broadly on the last trading day of the year on Friday, with volumes thin ahead of the New Year, but logged an overall robust annual gain.

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index rose 17.4 per cent for the year, adding 2,266.83 points in 2016. The index also touched its highest level since April 2015 in the previous session.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or TSX stumbles in year-end retreat with thin volumes, but rose 17.4% in 2016 Back to video

Some analysts predict more gains in 2017, particularly for resource and energy stocks.

On Friday, the TSX fell 134.53 points, or 0.87 per cent, to end at 15,287.59. Among the index’s 10 main sectors, only healthcare notched a win.

“There’s very little volume. A lot of these stocks ran up into the Christmas season and sort of just drifted sideways to down,” said Paul Harris, portfolio manager at Avenue Investment Management. “Most people aren’t around, so that’s just hampered any liquidity in the marketplace.”

Canadian National Railway Co was the most influential decliner on the index, falling 1.6 per cent to $90.36. The overall industrial stocks fell 1.0 per cent.