The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Canada's main stock index ticked slightly lower Wednesday, weighed down by losses in technology and base metals, while U.S. stock markets eked out another gain to reach a new all-time high for the S&P 500. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that investors are digesting the recent week's news on inflation, earnings and the non-stop announcements from U.S. President and self-described "King," Donald Trump. In Canada, the S&P/TSX Composite Index closed largely flat, at 25,626.16, down 22.68. Energy stocks rose as oil prices held near a one-week high of $76 (U.S.) per barrel on worries about supply disruptions in Russia and the U.S. Mining stocks also helped to contain the slide in the main index, led by higher gold prices and a 2.5-per-cent jump in Barrick shares. U.S. stocks ended modestly higher on Wednesday and the S&P 500 notched its second straight all-time closing high as investors scrutinized the minutes from the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting and digested Mr. Trump's tariff plans. All three major U.S. equity indexes made gains on the day. At the Fed's January policy meeting, the U.S. central bank left its key interest rate unchanged.