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TSX ends down 0.03% at 26,497.57

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Advance estimate shows retail sales down 1.1% in May

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Technology sector declines 0.5%

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Two sectors end higher, including financials

(Updates at market close)

By Fergal Smith

June 20 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was barely

changed on Friday, holding near its recent record high, as

investors assessed developments in the Middle East conflict and

domestic data that showed signs of an economic slowdown.

The S&P/TSX composite index ended down 8.43

points, or 0.03%, at 26,497.57, extending its sideways pattern

since notching a record closing high on June 12. For the week,

the index was also down 0.03%.

"The fundamental theme is one of market resilience," said Elvis

Picardo, a portfolio manager at Luft Financial, iA Private

Wealth.

"We have a lot of moving parts. You've got geopolitical

risk, you've got trade talks, you've got central bank action - a

host of elements which make it difficult to predict where we'll

be in the second half of the year and yet investor sentiment is

still leaning towards risk-on, still concerned about the fear of

missing out rather than encountering a sudden downside."

Canada's retail sales were up in April on a monthly basis

but were below estimates, while advanced data showed a drop of

1.1% in May.

"The advance estimate sets a somber tone for the second

quarter," Maria Solovieva, an economist at TD Economics, said in

a note. "In addition, our internal credit and debit card

spending data shows a meaningful softening in spending through

May, suggesting that consumers tightened their purse strings."

The technology sector fell 0.5%, with technology consulting

company CGI Inc ( GIB ) down 2.1%. Consumer staples was also a

drag, losing 0.5%.

T

eck Resources

Ltd is weighing options to expand production of

germanium, a strategic metal key to chipmaking, and is currently

talking with governments, including Canada and the United

States, on available funding, the company told Reuters. Shares

of Teck were down 1.2%.

Just two of the 10 major sectors ended higher but they

included financials, the most heavily weighted sector. It added

0.1%.