TSX falls as month-end selling and global rate worries weigh

Canada's primary stock index, the S&P/TSX Composite Index, slipped 224.40 points, or 0.63%, on Wednesday, extending its September decline. This downturn was fueled by renewed worries about global interest rates, trade disputes, and commodity prices, which negatively impacted investor confidence. Meanwhile, U.S. inflation data for August came in lower than anticipated, with core personal consumption expenditures prices increasing by 0.2% compared to July's 0.3% rise.

Despite this positive surprise, the TSX was on track for its first monthly loss since the previous five months of gains. September trading was characterized by rising global bond yields and escalated trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. Nonetheless, the index was still on pace for its ninth consecutive quarterly gain. Wall Street, meanwhile, ended mostly lower on Wednesday as selling in the final half-hour of trading erased earlier-day gains, driven by expectations of a reduced Federal Reserve rate hike in October.

The S&P 500 index also slipped 0.2% to close at 7,655.90 points, marking a marginal monthly loss of 0.4%. The tech-focused NASDAQ Composite, however, rose 0.2% to settle at 26,861.06 points, marking a 1.9% gain for the month. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8% to conclude at 50,908.79 points, with a 4.3% monthly decline.