The index's energy group retreated 3.7 percent, with pipeline operator Enbridge Inc (>> Enbridge Inc) off 3.5 percent at C$46.97 and Suncor Energy Inc (>> Suncor Energy Inc.) falling 4.1 percent to C$31.83.

Suncor, the country's largest oil and gas company, could provide further insight on the overall health of the oil patch when it reports quarterly earnings on Wednesday, according to John Kinsey, a portfolio manager at Caldwell Securities.

"I don't think the expectations for earnings for (Canadian energy companies) are going to be very high, and because they were beaten up so badly that they will maybe just muddle through here," he said.

Oil fell more than 6 percent as weak economic data from China, the world's largest energy consumer, weighed on prices and an OPEC source played down talk of an emergency meeting to stem the decline.

Kinsey said he likes the prospects for pipeline companies and feels they are being unfairly punished by association with the struggling energy industry.

The most influential movers on the index also included Royal Bank of Canada (>> Royal Bank of Canada), which fell 1.8 percent to C$71.27, and Canadian National Railway (>> Canadian National Railway Company), which declined 2 percent to C$74.45.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index <.GSPTSE> closed down 147.76 points, or 1.15 percent, to 12,674.37. Seven of the index's 10 main groups were in negative territory.

The index ended on Friday at 12,822.13, closing out the month at its highest since Jan. 6.

Investors were disappointed by euro zone manufacturing data that dovetailed with the fastest contraction in China's giant factory sector in over three years, while Canada's manufacturing sector also contracted in January, its sixth monthly fall.

The materials group, which includes precious and base metals miners and fertilizer companies, added 0.7 percent.

Gold rose to a three-month high on worries about global economic growth and hopes for easier monetary policy.

Shares in online gambling company Amaya Inc (>> Amaya Inc) surged 20 percent to C$18.00 after it said its CEO had offered to buy the company for about C$21 a share.

Royal Nickel Corp (>> Royal Nickel Corp) shares jumped nearly 19 percent to C$0.19 after announcing two cash and stock acquisitions that transform the mine developer into a cash-generating nickel, copper and gold producer.

(Additional reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Nick Zieminski and James Dalgleish)

By Alastair Sharp