Canada's main stock index edged lower in afternoon trading, weighed down by losses in the energy and base metal sectors, while U.S. stock markets climbed higher to start the week.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 3.14 points, or 0.02 per cent, at 20,578.44.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 123.85 points at 33,514.82. The S&P 500 Index was up 28.69 points at 4,074.33, while the Nasdaq Composite was up 126.58 points at 11,815.59.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.45 cents U.S. compared with 73.48 cents U.S. on Friday.

The April crude contract was down 23 cents at US$79.45 per barrel and the April natural gas contract was down 43 cents at US$2.58 per mm/BTU.

The April gold contract was up US$1.80 at US$1,856.40 an ounce and the May copper contract was up less than a penny at US$4.07 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2023.