(Adds analyst quote, adds details, updates prices)
* TSX ends down 82.8 points, or 0.64 percent, at 12,927.15
* Eight of the TSX's 10 main groups close lower
By Fergal Smith
TORONTO, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on
Monday, weighed down by financial, consumer and industrial
stocks as a slump in Chinese shares and weak economic data
spooked investors in the first session of 2016.
The index fell for the fourth straight session, although
dropping less than many other major markets as gold stocks
rallied. It follows an 11 percent loss in 2015, its worst year
since the global financial crisis of 2008.
"China had the big sell-off and that's kind of rolled
through the rest of the markets around the world," said Colin
Cieszynski, senior market analyst at CMC Markets Canada.
Weak economic data was the primary factor driving markets
lower, according to Cieszynski, while the spike in Middle East
tensions compounded matters.
Data revealed disappointing factory activity in China, the
United States and Canada for December.
The heavily weighted financial services sector was the
biggest drag on the market, falling 1.3 percent.
Royal Bank of Canada RY.TO fell 1.5 percent to C$73.04,
and Brookfield Asset Management Inc BAMa.TO declined 3.1
percent to C$42.31.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index
.GSPTSE closed down 82.8 points, or 0.64 percent, to
12,927.15, with eight of the index's 10 main groups in negative
territory.
The index hit a three-week low at 12,748.45 before paring
losses.
Crude oil swung lower on the day, weighing on energy stocks.
U.S. crude CLc1 prices settled at $36.76 a barrel, down 0.76
percent. O/R
Suncor Energy Inc SU.TO fell 1.2 percent to C$35.28. Its
top executive said it was "conceivable but highly improbable"
that the company will extend a C$4.3 billion ($3.08 billion)
hostile takeover bid for Canadian Oil Sands Ltd COS.TO beyond
this week's deadline.
Canadian National Railway Co CNR.TO fell 1.1 percent to
C$76.47, while Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ATDb.TO fell 2.0
percent to C$59.70.
The rally in gold stocks helped "cushion the blow," said
Cieszynski.
Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO rose 5.6 percent to C$10.81 and
Goldcorp Inc G.TO advanced 3.4 percent to C$16.54.
Gold futures GCc1 rose 1.4 percent to $1,074.5 an ounce as
investors sought a safe haven. GOL/