North American markets fell for a second day as weak earnings in the tech sector spooked investors. In Toronto, the S&P/TSX composite index closed down 35.90 points, or 0.44%, at 8,132.34.

All but one of the TSX’s 10 main subgroups ended lower.

The information technology sector was down 2.47% as Celestica dropped 98¢ to $18.12 and Nortel Networks edged 13¢ lower to $4.31.

Health-care stocks fell1.35%, while telecoms were alone in positive territory, up 0.45%.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index was the only North American index to finish in the black. It rose 0.81, or 0.06%, to 1,471.78.

The Canadian dollar dropped again, down from US75.45¢ yesterday to US75.15¢ today.

On Wall Street., markets continued to slide after Hewlett-Packard presented a disappointing second quarter earnings report, and warned that the third quarter would be below Street expectations, too. Meanwhile, there was more bad news today from the energy sector. Oil prices rose another U.S.70¢ a barrel to US$45.50 — marking their first-ever close above US$45 a barrel.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed at its lowest level of the year — down 123.73 points, or 1.2%, at 9,814.59.

The Nasdaq composite index plunged to its lowest close since Aug.18, 2003, down 29.93 points, or 1.7 %, at 1,752.49 and the S&P 500 fell 12.56 points, or 1.2%, to 1,063.23.

After markets closed, computer maker Dell Inc. said its second-quarter earnings rose 29%, meeting analyst estimates.