North American markets slid backwards Thursday as investors took profits ahead of the Canadian and U.S. jobs reports, which are due out tomorrow.

In Toronto, the S&P/TSX composite index closed down 29.61 points, or 0.35%, at 8,427.69 on a volume of 233 million shares worth $3 billion.

Six of the TSX’s 10 sub-indexes ended lower. The materials group led the way down, falling 2.21%. Within that group, gold issues fell 2.81% on lower bullion prices. Barrick Gold Corp. slid 68¢ to $26.60. Alcan Inc. fell $1.85, or 3%, to $55.80 after its first-quarter profit came in short of expectations.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index fell 21.48 to 1,648.76.

In the U.S. a regulatory investigation of Citigroup Inc. and disappointing sales at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pulled the S&P 500 index lower. This news also weighed heavily on the Dow Jones industrial average.

The Dow dropped 69.69 points, or 0.68%, to 10,241.26. The S&P 500 fell 7.57 points, or 0.67%, at 1,113.96. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 19.52 points, or 1%, to 1,937.74.