CANADA STOCKS-TSX slips to one-week low as China fears hit sentiment

    * TSX falls 46 points, or 0.33 percent, to 14,221.23 
    * Nine of 10 main index sectors decline 
    * Canadian Natural drop weighs on market 
 
    By John Tilak 
    TORONTO, March 12 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index 
declined on Wednesday to its lowest in more than a week as 
worries about a slowdown in China weighed on prices of oil and 
copper, hitting investor sentiment and sending shares in almost 
every major sector lower. 
    Recent sluggish data from China and news of the country's 
first bond default raised investor nervousness about the world 
second-biggest economy. The London copper benchmark    
dropped to its lowest in about four years. 
    And with a referendum in Crimea looming, investors rushed to 
perceived safe-haven assets such as bullion, which jumped 1.5 
percent. 
    The broader Toronto market, which is up about 4.4 percent 
this year, slipped for a second straight session.  
    "We're into a correction now. For Canada, it's a fairly 
healthy correction as we've recently had some strong moves 
upwards," said Colin Cieszynski, senior market analyst at CMC 
Markets Canada. "So we were getting due." 
    "We're seeing a definite turn towards defensive plays in the 
marketplace," he added. 
    The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index 
   was down 46 points, or 0.33 percent, at 14,221.23.  
    "Over time, as the global economic cycle improves, it does 
favor Canadian stocks," said Cieszynski, who sees any 
improvement in the United States or Europe benefiting the TSX. 
    Nine of the 10 main sectors on the index were in the red on 
Wednesday. 
    With oil prices selling off on concerns about demand, the 
energy sector gave back 1 percent. Canadian Natural Resources 
Ltd    lost 1.8 percent to C$39.91 and had the biggest 
negative influence on market. Suncor Energy Inc    declined 
0.4 percent to C$36.27.  
    Financials, the index's most heavily weighted sector, 
slipped 0.5 percent, with Royal Bank of Canada    shedding 
0.6 percent to C$71.87. 
    Gold-mining shares were the lone bright spot, jumping 2.1 
percent. Goldcorp Inc    added 3 percent to C$30.64, and 
Barrick Gold Corp    advanced 2 percent to C$22.43. 
     
 
 ((john.tilak@thomsonreuters.com)(1-416-687-7918)(Reuters 
Messaging: john.tilak.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
  
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