TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index ended lower for a second straight session yesterday, pulled down in a broad sell-off that was led by the energy group, while firm golds offset a portion the losses.

Nine of the index's 10 main groups were lower, with the oil and gas group the top laggard, down 1.47 percent. The price of crude oil, an important Canadian export, broke a six-day rising streak to settle below $86 a barrel, prompting profit-taking.

Shares of Suncor Energy Inc., Canada's largest oil company, lost 1.65 percent, while EnCana Corp. fell 1.86 percent to C$32.25.

The heavyweight financial group retreated 0.72 percent with Royal Bank of Canada, the country's biggest lender, falling 1.04 percent to C$58.84. Toronto-Dominion Bank dropped 1.08 percent to C$73.41.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed down 45.81 points, or 0.38 percent, at 12,110.9.

On the upside, gold miners were supported by the price of the precious metal, which rose above $1,150 an ounce, its highest level in nearly three months.

This helped boost the materials group 1.52 percent, the index's lone rising sector.

"That's why the loss on the market is as contained as it is," said Peter Chandler, senior vice-president at Canaccord Wealth Management in Waterloo, Ontario.

Barrick Gold gained 3.65 percent to C$40.88, while Goldcorp advanced 4.65 percent to C$40.06.

The Canadian dollar pushed through parity against the greenback for a second day yesterday, nearing a 21-month high, but then fell back sharply as oil prices fell and risk appetite dried up. The Canadian dollar touched a low of C$1.0058 to the US dollar, or 99.42 US cents, its descent deepening as oil prices retreated after six sessions of gains and as euro zone worries persisted.