TSX Closer: Index Falls From Record High As Base Metals and Information Technology Shares Drop

04:42 PM EDT, 08/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell from its record high as it turned lower on Wednesday, pressured by weakness in base metals and information technology. This outweighed gains in energy and industrial stocks, while investors assessed developments in the Middle East and the impact from escalating Canada-US trade tensions. The index closed down 143.98 points, or 0.4%, at 36,813.65. Base Metals led decliners, down 1.4%, followed by health care, down 0.8%, and information technology, down 0.6%.The energy sector led gainers, up 0.8%, while the industrial sector rose 0.7%. The Battery Metals Index, which includes companies listed both on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange, jumped 2.3%. In commodities, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude rebounded from weaker prices due to hopes of progress in Iran-Oman talks that aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Despite signs of diplomatic progress, shipping through the key waterway remained low, keeping uncertainty over Middle East oil supplies in focus. October WTI crude oil contract settled down $0.13, or 0.2%, at $82.23 per barrel, while October Brent oil was last seen down $1.19, or 1.3%, at $87.39 per barrel. Meanwhile, December Comex gold futures shed 1.0%, or $46.00, to $4,648.50 per ounce at last look. In currencies, the US dollar edged up 0.3% against the Canadian dollar to 1.3876 at last look. The Canadian dollar faces renewed downside pressure as trade tensions with the US escalate, according to Corpay in a Wednesday note. While Canada's counter-tariffs on US imports are set to take effect in September and could strengthen Canada's negotiating position, they are likely to weigh on growth, investment and employment while lifting consumer prices and complicating the Bank of Canada's policy outlook. Corpay said it expects the BoC to hold rates next week for the sixth straight meeting. In bonds, the Government of Canada's C$5 billion 10-year bond auction attracted solid investor demand on Wednesday. The auction drew C$11.8 billion in bids, or 2.36 times the amount on offer, according to data on the BoC website. In stocks, National Bank of Canada (NA.TO) closed down 4.2% at C$213.18 after reporting Q3 earnings beat on Wednesday. The lender reported Q3 adjusted diluted earnings of C$3.39 per share, up from C$2.68 a year earlier and above the C$3.21 consensus estimate compiled by FactSet.