CANADA STOCKS-TSX slips as gold miners weigh

    * TSX down 10.71 points, or 0.08 pct, at 13,577.27 
    * Gold miners weigh, bullion heads for historically bad year 
 
    By Alastair Sharp 
    TORONTO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
slipped marginally in light trade on Monday, with gold-mining 
shares weighing heavily as bullion headed for its biggest annual 
loss in 32 years. 
    Some heavyweight banks also slipped, but the losses were 
offset by moderate gains among energy companies. While trading 
activity was muted, optimism showed in expectations for improved 
economic growth in 2014. 
    "I think it will be quiet through to the new year," said 
John Kinsey, a portfolio manager at Caldwell Securities. 
    "On balance, we believe 2014 is going to be a better year 
than 2013," he said. "That's based on some of the economic 
numbers...the U.S. reduced their taper, they seem to think their 
economy is going to find some traction." 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   is on track for a roughly 9 percent gain for the year, 
a sharp underperformance compared to the broad S&P 500    
index's 30 percent gain to all-time highs. 
    The annual gain for the S&P 500 and other U.S. indices was 
supported by the U.S. Federal Reserve's massive stimulus 
efforts, which the central bank only this month started to 
withdraw. 
    By contrast, Canada's reliance on commodity-linked stocks 
has hampered growth as the global economy has spluttered. 
    The Canadian index was down 10.71 points, or 0.08 percent, 
at 13,577.27 by mid-morning. 
    Among the biggest negative influencers, Suncor Energy Inc 
   fell 0.5 percent to C$37.06, Royal Bank of Canada 
   slipped 0.2 percent to C$71.15, and Goldcorp Inc    
declined 1.1 percent to C$22.85. 
    The price of gold has fallen nearly 30 percent this year, 
weighing on the many mining companies listed in Toronto and 
dragging down the index as a whole.  
    An index of global gold miners, mostly Canadian companies, 
has fallen 48 percent this year. 
    Caldwell's Kinsey said that the depressed price of gold - 
now at $1,200 an ounce - should lead to mine closures which in 
turn would put a floor under the price and help the sector 
stabilize next year. 
    On the positive side, pipeline operators TransCanada Corp 
   gained 0.4 percent to C$48.64 and Pembina Pipeline Corp 
   added 0.8 percent to C$37.48.  
     
 
 (Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) 
 ((alastair.sharp@reuters.com)(+1 416 941 8118)(Reuters 
Messaging: alastair.sharp.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
((============================================================== 
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES IN BRACKETS:    
TSX market report........................................ .TO   
Canadian dollar and bonds report................... CAD/  CA/   
Reuters global stocks poll (Canada)...    EPOLL/CA   
Top News: Canada .................................... TOP/CAN   
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS DATA.............................   )) 
 
Keywords: MARKETS CANADA/STOCKS