(Updates at market close)

*

TSX ends down 0.5% at 25,504.33

*

Technology sector falls 1.2%

*

Real estate loses 0.9%

*

Nine of 10 major sectors decline

By Fergal Smith

Dec 10 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell for a

second straight day on Tuesday as technology and real estate

shares lost ground, but the decline was restrained ahead of an

expected supersized interest rate cut by the Bank of Canada.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index

ended down 121.09 points, or 0.5%, at 25,504.33,

extending its pullback from a record closing high on Friday.

Wall Street's main indexes also ended lower as investors

awaited a U.S. inflation report on Wednesday.

The TSX has added 21.7% since the start of 2024, including

16.6% since mid-year.

"We've had a great run, particularly in the TSX in the last,

call it, six months," said Sadiq Adatia, chief investment

officer at BMO Asset Management. "This is people looking at

markets, taking some gains."

The Bank of Canada will slash interest rates by a half

percentage point at a second consecutive meeting on Wednesday,

according to a majority of economists polled by Reuters, many of

whom changed their view on news of a sharp rise in unemployment.

"I think it's important for them to continue to be

aggressive on rate cuts to help fuel the Canadian economy,"

Adatia said. "It would be a sign that consumers are going to

spend, helping drive earnings for corporations."

The consumer discretionary sector added 0.3%, the only one

of 10 major sectors to notch gains.

The technology sector fell 1.2%, with e-commerce company

Shopify ( SHOP ) down 1.6%. Real estate lost 0.9%, its fourth

straight day of declines.