*
TSX ends down 122.14 points, or 0.6%, at 19,532.78
*
Energy falls 1.4%; oil settles 1.8% higher
*
Financials lose 0.8%
(Adds details on activity; updates prices to close)
March 22 (Reuters) - Canada's benchmark stock index fell
on Wednesday, giving back some of its gains in recent days, as
investors assessed the Federal Reserve's move to raise interest
rates and signal that its tightening campaign is nearing an end.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index ended down 122.14 points, or 0.6%, at 19,532.78,
preliminary data showed. On Tuesday, the index posted its
highest closing level in one week.
The Fed raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage
point, but indicated it was on the verge of pausing further
increases in borrowing costs amid recent turmoil in financial
markets spurred by the collapse of two U.S. banks.
The energy group fell 1.4% even as a weaker U.S. dollar
helped support oil prices. U.S. crude oil futures settled
1.8% higher at $70.90 a barrel.
Heavily-weighted financials also lost ground, falling 0.8%,
while technology ended 1.1% lower.
(Reporting by Fergal Smith; Additional reporting by Johann M
Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta Agarwal and Paul Simao)
