Stocks under pressure in early trading, Aurora sinks on NYSE debut

TORONTO -- Canada's main stock index was down more than 200 points on a broad-based decline led by the energy sector, while U.S. markets also sank deep into the red.

Overall, the S&P/TSX composite index was down 248.01 points at 15,164.69.

Stocks in Canada were down across the board, while some of the biggest names in the marijuana business also extended recent losses.

Aurora Cannabis Inc., which debuted on the New York Stock Exchange, was down US$1.38 cents at US$7.31 on the U.S. market. Aurora shares were down C$1.90 at $9.52 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 396.17 points at 24,921.24. The S&P 500 index was down 49.05 points at 2,706.83, while the Nasdaq composite was down 160.22 points at 7,308.41.

The Canadian dollar traded lower at 76.29 cents US compared with an average of 76.31 cents US on Monday.

The December crude contract was down US$1.95 at US$67.41 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up 8.2 cents at US$3.22 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$10.30 at US$1,234.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was down 2.75 cents at US$2.76 a pound.