CANADA STOCKS-China data pulls TSX lower, gold miners slump

    * TSX falls 57.21 points, or 0.40 percent, to 14,278.55 
    * Five of 10 main index sectors decline 
    * Gold-mining shares drop 4.4 percent 
 
    By John Tilak 
    TORONTO, March 24 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
slipped on Monday as disappointing economic data from China 
weighed on sentiment and a slump in the price of bullion sent 
gold-mining shares tumbling to their biggest single-day drop in 
more than three months. 
    A survey showed that China's manufacturing industry 
contracted in the first quarter of 2014, adding to a slew of 
recent data indicating that China, a big buyer of Canadian 
resources, is struggling to maintain growth.    
    Investors also digested figures showing a solid pace of 
growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector in the first quarter. 
   
    Shares of gold producers fell with the price of bullion as 
investors feared the impact of rising U.S. interest rates. 
 GOL/  
    The Toronto stock market's benchmark index was lower after 
recording a 0.8 percent gain the previous week. It is still up 
about 5 percent this year. 
    "I think the market is going to go through a very uncertain 
period here, without much direction," said Michael Sprung, 
president of Sprung Investment Management. 
    "The economic numbers in the United States point to a 
strengthening economy, but the fear is that it won't take too 
much to stall the recovery," he added. "I don't think we're 
going to see much buoyancy, at least in the immediate future." 
    Sprung expects the Canadian market to pull back in the near 
term, but he is optimistic about prospects for the year in 
general. 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   closed down 57.21 points, or 0.40 percent, at 
14,278.55. Five of the 10 main sectors on the index were in the 
red. 
    Gold-mining shares dropped 4.4 percent, hurt by a 2 percent 
fall in the price of bullion. Barrick Gold Corp    lost 
4.6 percent to C$20.75, and Goldcorp Inc    gave back 4.2 
percent to C$28.61. 
    Financials, the index's most heavily weighted sector, added 
0.3 percent. Royal Bank of Canada    was up 0.4 percent at 
C$72.43, and Toronto-Dominion Bank    advanced 0.3 percent 
to C$51.70. 
    Shares of energy producers advanced following a gain in the 
price of oil. Suncor Energy Inc    climbed 1.4 percent to 
C$36.86. 
 ($1=$1.12 Canadian) 
 
 (Editing by Peter Galloway and Matthew Lewis) 
 ((john.tilak@thomsonreuters.com)(1-416-687-7918)(Reuters 
Messaging: john.tilak.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
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