Sept 21 - Canada's main stock index hit over three-week lows on Thursday as commodity stocks tracked a decline in the prices of oil and most metals after the U.S. Federal Reserve hardened its hawkish stance.
The Canadian dollar weakened against the greenback on Thursday while yields on benchmark government bond climbed. Copper prices fell to their lowest in almost four months, and gold extended its decline for a third consecutive day following the Fed's tightening bias.The U.S. central bank on Wednesday maintained interest rates but signalled more rate hikes, projecting a quarter-percentage-point increase to 5.50-5.75% by the year-end.
The Bank of Canada has also kept the door open for further tightening after domestic inflation in August was higher than expected.