Canada's main stock index fell on Thursday, as energy stocks tracked weaker crude prices, while concerns over renewed coronavirus lockdowns in Europe dented optimism around a swifter global economic recovery.

The energy sector dropped 2.1% as crude prices fell amid a new round of coronavirus restrictions in Europe which revived worries about demand for oil products.

At 9:38 a.m. ET (1338 GMT), the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index was down 78.03 points, or 0.42%, at 18,550.26.

Oil producer Enerplus Corporation fell 5.7%, the most on the TSX, and miner First Quantum Minerals Ltd, down 4.9%, was the second biggest decliner.

The materials sector, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, lost 0.5%

On the TSX, 72 issues were higher, while 149 issues declined for a 2.07-to-1 ratio to the downside, with 15.60 million shares traded.

The largest percentage gainers on the TSX were BRP Inc , which jumped 6.1% after the insurance distribution company reported fourth-quarter results above estimates, and Uranium miner Denison Mines Corp, which rose 1.5%.

The most-heavily traded shares by volume were Xebec Adsorption Inc and Supreme Cannabis Company Inc .

The TSX posted two new 52-week highs and no new lows.

Across all Canadian issues, there were eight new 52-week highs and nine new lows, with total volume of 34.05 million shares.