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TSX ends down 0.3% at 25,563.11

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Energy falls 2.2%; oil settles 2.7% lower

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Materials group rises 1.2%

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Barrick Gold ( GOLD ) adds 6.3% after profit beat

(Updates at market close)

By Ragini Mathur and Fergal Smith

Feb 12 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on

Wednesday as a drop in oil prices weighed on energy shares and

hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data crimped expectations

for additional interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

The S&P/TSX composite index ended down 68.72

points, or 0.3%, at 25,563.11, its second straight day of

declines.

U.S. consumer prices increased by the most in nearly 1-1/2

years in January, reinforcing the Fed's message that it was in

no rush to resume cutting interest rates amid growing

uncertainty over the economy.

"Inflation is not behaving in a way that suggests the Fed

will cut rates and that is incrementally bad news for the

markets for now," said Angelo Kourkafas, investment strategist

at Edward Jones Investments.

The energy sector fell 2.2% as the price of oil

settled 2.7% lower at $71.37 a barrel.

U.S. President Donald Trump took the first big step toward

diplomacy over the war in Ukraine he has promised to end, a war

that has supported oil prices on concerns about global supplies.

Consumer discretionary lost 1.1%, while real estate ended 1%

lower as bond yields climbed. The Canadian 10-year yield was up

9.4 basis points at 3.192%.

Shares of TerraVest Industries Inc ( TRRVF ) fell 10.4% after

quarterly revenue for the manufacturer of home heating products

fell short of analysts' estimates.

The materials group was a bright spot, rising 1.2%, as gold

and copper prices rose. Barrick Gold Corp ( GOLD )

shares added 6.3% after the mining company announced a share

buyback program and beat analysts' estimates for fourth-quarter

profit.

Shares of BlackBerry Ltd ( BB ) jumped 10.2%, touching the

highest since August 2022.