TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index closed marginally lower yesterday, flattening out as wary investors sat on their hands and braced for any surprises that may come as the US earnings season starts.

The index spent the day in a 104-point range as investors looked ahead to second-quarter earnings results from US companies, with Alcoa Inc. reporting after the bell.

A weak run of economic data has raised speculation the economic recovery may be losing momentum.

"It's all about the guidance, hints about hiring or if they see stronger sales," said Francis Campeau, broker at MFGlobal Canada, in Montreal.

"As for today, the word is lacklustre, a fairly narrow range vis-a-vis what we've seen recently."

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index slipped 4.69 points, or 0.04 percent, to end at 11,565.76. Six of the index's 10 sectors were lower.

Prices of key resources were soft Monday, with oil settling below $75 a barrel following three straight advancing sessions. That sent shares of Talisman Energy down 0.18 percent to C$16.54, while Canadian Oil Sands Trust lost 1.6 percent to C$27.16.

Copper prices fell after China reported a drop in copper imports for the third straight month in June, casting a shadow on the demand outlook and pushing the index's materials group down 0.66 percent.

Teck Resources fell 3.29 percent to C$34.43, while Inmet Mining lost 2.5 percent to C$46.06.

The Canadian dollar fell Monday due in part to soft oil prices, while investors were slightly cautious about Bank of Canada surveys that showed upbeat business sentiment but worries about the global recovery.

The second-quarter surveys showed businesses were optimistic in their outlook for sales, investment and hiring, but their enthusiasm was tempered by fears that global uncertainties would hurt economic recovery.

In the business survey, companies reported for the first time in two years that past sales activity had improved. But the balance of opinion on future sales the difference between the percentage predicting higher sales minus those expecting a drop fell to 24 percent from 44 percent in the first quarter.