12:05 PM EDT, 10/08/2024 (MT Newswires) -- The Toronto Stock Exchange is down 96 points at midday, with commodities the biggest decliners.

Miners and energy are down 4% and 4%, respectively.

Info tech and industrials are the sole gainers, up 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively.

Oil prices dropped on Tuesday for the first time in six sessions as traders await Israel's response to Iran's Oct.1 missile attack and China avoids new stimulus measures to revive a flagging economy.

Gold edged down, moving lower for a third-straight session even as the dollar weakened and treasury yields were mixed.

Natural gas prices moved down for a third-straight day with demand weak due to damage in the Southeast following flooding from Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Milton, expected to make landfall in central Florida this week, is likely to bring further damage to electricity infrastructure.