TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was little changed on Monday as a decline in U.S. crude oil prices weighed on shares of companies in the energy sector, offsetting a gain in the gold-mining sector. U.S. crude oil prices fell 2.4 percent after Tropical Storm Harvey inflicted damage along the U.S. Gulf Coast during the weekend. In the heavily weighted energy sector, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (>> Canadian Natural Resources Limited) slipped 0.1 percent to C$38.60, and Suncor Energy Inc (>> Suncor Energy Inc.) fell 0.6 percent to C$38.96. Overall, the energy group shed 0.9 percent.

Bullion prices hit a 9-1/2-month high following comments from the head of the European Central Bank at a meeting of central bankers that the euro zone's economic recovery had taken hold.

Barrick Gold Corp (>> Barrick Gold Corp) climbed 3.2 percent to C$22.08, and Goldcorp Inc (>> Goldcorp Inc.) added 3.3 percent to C$16.84. The financial services sector lost 0.4 percent. Royal Bank of Canada (>> Royal Bank of Canada) was down 0.2 percent at C$93.04, and Toronto Dominion Bank (>> Toronto-Dominion Bank) retreated 0.3 percent to C$64.66.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> closed down 3.96 points, or 0.03 percent, at 15,052.03. Six of the TSX's 10 main groups were lower. Shares of Toromont Industries Ltd (>> Toromont Industries Ltd) jumped 11.1 percent to C$49.87 after the company said it would buy privately held Hewitt Group for about C$1.02 billion ($818 million) in cash and shares to expand its network of heavy equipment dealers in eastern Canada.

(Reporting by John Tilak; Editing by W Simon and Dan Grebler)