The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 137 points Tuesday mid-morning but commodities posted the biggest gains, as fighting spread in the Middle East, as Iran-backed Houthis attacked several cities in Saudi Arabia, injuring dozens.
Information technology was the worst performer, shedding 3.7%, on last look.
Base metals sector was up 4.3%, while the energy sector advanced 2%.
In stocks, Bombardier (BBD-B.TO) shares fell near 7% after President Trump threatened a boycott of the company's planes unless they were built in the US. In a Sept. 7 statement, Bombardier pointed out that it "create[s] tens of thousands of US jobs through the company's growing American footprint as well as within its supply chain made up of approximately 2,800 American companies across 47 states."
In other news, Canadian counter-tariffs came into effect on CA$28-billion of US imports early this morning.