TSX sharply lower for second day

TORONTO — The Toronto stock market was sharply lower for a second consecutive day Thursday as investors appeared to ignore the positive news from overseas that cheered traders south of the border. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 133.58 points at 14,278.49, adding to a big decline of 212 points in the previous session as the International Monetary Fund cut its growth forecast for both the Canadian and global economies. In New York, it was a different story amid renewed optimism that a deal was in the works between Greece and it creditors and signs that measures by Beijing to stem the rout on China's stock markets appeared to be working. The Canadian dollar also halted its recent skid, rising 0.21 of a U.S. cent to 78.70 cents.