TSX recap: Index closes 1.25% lower amid broad-based losses

North American stock markets suffered broad-based declines Monday, continuing the downward momentum that's been the story for equities since the start of December.

The S&P/TSX Composite Index was down 242.52 points, or 1.25 per cent, at 19,200.76.

In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 162.92 points at 32,757.54. The S&P 500 Index was down 34.70 points at 3,817.66, while the Nasdaq Composite was down 159.38 points at 10,546.03.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.24 cents U.S. compared with 73.06 cents U.S. on Friday.

The February crude contract was up 92 cents at US$75.38 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down 75 cents at US$5.85 per mmBTU.

The February gold contract was down US$2.50 at US$1,797.70 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$3.78 a pound.