TSX Today: What to Watch for in Stocks on Friday, March 20

The selloff in Canadian equities continued on Thursday as a cautious monetary policy outlook and expanding Middle East conflict weighed on investor sentiment. The S&P/TSX Composite Index tanked by 458 points, or 1.4%, to settle at 31,855, marking its lowest closing so far in 2026.

Even as elevated crude oil prices drove energy stocks higher, sharp declines in other key sectors like mining, consumer cyclicals, and real estate pulled the TSX lower.

Top TSX Composite movers and active stocks

As gold, silver, and copper prices plunged to their lowest levels in several months, mining stocks, such as B2Gold, Endeavour Silver, NovaGold Resources, and Seabridge Gold, fell by at least 7.8% each, making them the worst-performing TSX stocks for the day.

Shares of Lithium Americas (TSX:LAC) dived by 5.8% to $5.53 apiece, making it among the day’s bottom performers on the Toronto Stock Exchange. This selloff in LAC stock came after the Vancouver-based lithium company reported a wider full-year 2025 net loss of US$86.3 million, compared to a US$42.6 million loss in 2024. Last year, the company’s operating expenses nearly doubled to US$52.8 million, partly due to higher hiring, professional fees, and costs tied to advancing construction at its Thacker Pass project.

While Lithium Americas ended the year with a strong cash position of US$905.6 million and continued drawing on its US$2.23 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan to fund development, its total long-term liabilities rose sharply to US$815.6 million from US$41.3 million a year earlier. Investors appeared concerned about the company’s growing losses, rising debt load, and continued share dilution, which likely weighed on LAC stock despite construction progress at Thacker Pass.

In contrast, Vermilion Energy, Methanex, Cenovus Energy, and Celestica climbed by at least 3.9% each, making them the session’s top-performing TSX stocks.

Based on their daily trade volume, Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, Whitecap Resources, Suncor Energy, and Baytex Energy were the five most active stocks on the exchange.

TSX today

Commodity prices were largely mixed in early trading on Friday, pointing to a flat open for the resource-heavy main TSX index today.

While no key economic releases from the United States are due, Canadian investors may want to keep a close eye on the latest domestic retail sales numbers this morning, which could offer fresh insights into consumer spending trends.

Meanwhile, the intensifying conflict in the Middle East is adding a new layer of uncertainty, as recent attacks on critical energy infrastructure in the Gulf have heightened fears of prolonged supply disruptions. Oil prices have surged and remain volatile, reflecting concerns about constrained global supply flows. Any sustained disruption through key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz could have a broader impact on inflation and global growth. These developments are likely to keep energy stocks in focus while adding pressure to the broader market outlook.

Market movers on the TSX today

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  The post TSX Today: What to Watch for in Stocks on Friday, March 20 appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada.

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  Fool contributor Jitendra Parashar has positions in Canadian Natural Resources and Celestica. The Motley Fool recommends B2Gold, Canadian Natural Resources, Celestica, Methanex, Vermilion Energy, and Whitecap Resources. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.