TORONTO — Canada's main stock index finished higher on Tuesday, as gains in basic materials offset broader losses, while U.S. markets fell on the start of a historically weak month for equity markets.

Philip Petursson, chief investment strategist at IG Wealth Management, said Tuesday’s trading session seemed like a “classic September swoon.”

“We've noted as well as so many others that September historically is the weakest month of the year for the S&P 500. You have a higher probability of downside, and it's almost as if it's becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy,” he said.

“We say it enough that people believe it, and then all of a sudden it gets priced into the market as soon as September starts.”

Overall, he said, pullbacks are healthy for the market.

“This is the natural course of pr

See Full Page