North American markets ended mixed on Friday as investors seem directionless ahead of next week’s meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve and its pending interest-rate announcement.

In Toronto, the S&P TSX composite Index dropped moderately. It lost 33 points, falling to 0.39% to 8,497.77. The TSX Venture Exchange fared better, but only slightly. It added 4.86 points, or 0.31%, to 1,585.18.

In the U.S., only the Nasdaq Composite Index finished in postive territory. It gained a mere 9.90 points, or 0.49%, at 2,025.47. The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 71.97 points, or 0.69%, at 10,371.84. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slid 6.33 points, or 0.55%, at 1,134.32.

On the TSX, only three of the exchange’s sub-indices finished positively. The most notable was the health care sub-index, which added 1.86%. Angiotech Pharmaceuticals added 61¢ today, after losing $1.81 yesterday. Financial issues dropped 0.55%.

The Canadian dollar fell 0.26¢ to US74.04¢.