Canada’s main stock index inched slightly higher while U.S. markets retreated from record highs on new concerns about the economic impact from the coronavirus.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 18.70 points at 17,944.06.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 128.05 points at 29,219.98. The S&P 500 index was down 12.92 points at 3,373.23, while the Nasdaq composite was down 66.21 points at 9,750.96.

The Canadian dollar traded for US75.45¢ compared with an average of US75.58¢ on Wednesday.

The April crude contract was up US39¢ at US$53.88 per barrel and the April natural gas contract was down four cents at US$1.93 per mmBTU.

The April gold contract was up US$8.70 at US$1,620.50 an ounce and the March copper contract was down 1.8 cents at US$2.59 a pound.