Trading on North American stock markets was volatile as the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spook investors.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 37.07 points at 14,251.09.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 39.44 points at 23,515.26. The S&P 500 index was down 1.51 points at 2,797.80, while the Nasdaq composite was down 0.63 of a point at 8,494.75.

The Canadian dollar traded for US71.11¢ compared with an average of US70.65¢ on Wednesday.

The June crude oil contract was up US$2.72 at US$16.50 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was down 11.1 cents at US$1.94 per mmBTU.

The June gold contract was up US$7.10 at US$1,745.40 an ounce and the May copper contract was up 2.2 cents at US$2.31 a pound.