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TSX ends down 1.5% at 24,380.71

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Posts lowest closing level since November 4

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Tech loses 3.6%, with Shopify ( SHOP ) down 6.9%

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Whitecap Resources ( SPGYF ) tumbles 14% on merger deal

(Updates at market close)

By Fergal Smith

March 10 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell to a

four-month low on Monday, including declines for technology and

metal mining shares, as investors globally grew more worried

that the unpredictability of U.S. trade policy could derail

economic growth.

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

ended down 378.05 points, or 1.5%, at 24,380.71, its

lowest closing level since November 4, the day before the

election of U.S. President Donald Trump.

U.S. stocks posted even steeper declines.

Trump on Sunday declined to rule out that his tariffs on

Canada, Mexico and China may cause a U.S. recession. A Reuters

poll found that recession risks were mounting for the U.S.,

Mexico and Canada.

"The market selling off tech is a direct indication that

future growth is being called into question," said Allan Small,

senior investment advisor of the Allan Small Financial Group

with iA Private Wealth. "Technology is where you see people

invest when they're bullish on growth potential for the future."

The Toronto market's technology sector fell 3.6%, with

shares of e-commerce company Shopify Inc ( SHOP ) down 6.9%.

The materials group, which includes fertilizer and metal

mining shares, lost 2.6% as gold and copper prices

fell.

Heavily weighted financials were down 1.6% and industrials

ended 2% lower. The utilities sector was the only major one to

end higher, advancing 0.4% as bond yields declined.

The Bank of Canada is expected on Wednesday to cut its

benchmark interest rate by a further 25 basis points to support

the economy, after lowering the rate by two percentage points

since June to its current setting of 3%.

Whitecap Resources Inc ( SPGYF ) shares fell 14.5% after the

oil producer agreed to merge with Veren Inc ( VRN ) in an

all-stock deal valued at C$15 billion ($10.43 billion) including

debt. Shares of Veren ( VRN ) were up 16.0%.