Canada stocks-TSX ends lower as gold falls, posts fourth straight monthly gain

Toronto's main stock index fell on Friday as a drop in gold prices weighed on metal mining shares, but the index still posted its fourth straight monthly gain.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX Composite index ended down 279.70 points, or 0.8%, at 35,226.14. For July, the index was up 1.1%, led by energy shares.

Retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard said it plans to buy Poland's Zabka for about $8.7 billion. Shares of Couche-Tard were up 1.4%.

Preliminary data pointed to Canada's economy growing by 3.4% in the second quarter on an annualized basis, which would be stronger than the Bank of Canada has forecast.

Industrials rose 0.5% and heavily weighted financials ended 0.2% higher.

Four of the 10 major sectors ended higher, including energy. It added 0.6%, lifting its monthly gain to more than 16%.

"Energy had a nice run," said Michael Constantino, CEO of Webull Canada. "It is an opportunity as well for clients to take some money off the table and shift."

U.S. crude oil futures settled 1.3% higher at $84.67 a barrel as reports that some tankers were forced to turn around in the Strait of Hormuz prompted traders to reassess shipping flows through the key waterway.

Imperial Oil, Enbridge and TC Energy all beat second-quarter profit estimates.