Canada’s main stock index closed lower midweek even though higher crude oil prices lifted the key energy sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index was down 59.06 points at 16,345.73.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 11.40 points at 26,536.82. The S&P 500 index was down 3.60 points at 2,913,78, while the Nasdaq composite was up 25.25 points at 7,909.97.

The Canadian dollar traded for an average of US76.16¢ compared with an average of US75.91¢ on Tuesday.

The August crude contract was up US$1.55 at US$59.38 per barrel and the August natural gas contract was down US1.8¢ at US$2.27 per mmBTU.

The August gold contract was down US$3.30 at US$1,415.40 an ounce and the September copper contract was down US1.95¢ at US$2.72 a pound.