(Updates at market close)

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TSX ends down 0.6%, at 30,458.80

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Financials decline 1.7%

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Energy loses 1.9% as oil settles 1.4% lower

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Materials group rises 1.9% as gold hits a record high

By Ragini Mathur and Fergal Smith

TORONTO, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index

pulled back on Thursday from a record high as declines for

financial and energy shares offset gains for metal miners.

The S&P/TSX composite index ended down 178.32

points, or 0.6%, at 30,458.80, after notching a record closing

high on Wednesday. Since the start of the year, the index has

added 23.2%.

"The Canadian stock market is in a sweet spot with precious

metals experiencing a tremendous surge and gold miners occupying

a significant position within the TSX," said Matt Skipp,

President of SW8 Asset Management.

The materials group accounts for 17% of the TSX's

market capitalization. That's the second heaviest weighting

behind financials, which has a weighting of 32%.

Financials fell 1.7% on Thursday as signs of weakness in U.S.

regional banks spooked investors, while energy was down 1.9%.

The price of oil settled 1.4% lower at $57.46 a barrel,

its lowest level in five months.

The real estate sector also lost ground, falling

0.7%, after mixed domestic housing data for September. Canadian

home sales fell 1.7% last month from August, ending a string of

increases that began in April, while housing starts rose 14%.

The materials group added to its recent gains, rising 1.9%,

as the price of gold climbed to another record high.

Shares of Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd ( AEM ) were up 3.8% and

Barrick Mining Corp ( B ) added 2.8%.