TORONTO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index fell on Monday, weighed by declines for financial and metal mining shares, as investors worried that a potential Bank of Canada interest rate hike could slow the domestic economy.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index ended down 247.92 points, or 0.7%, at 35,928.63, after posting its highest closing level in more than three weeks on Friday.
* Canada's annual inflation rate rose less than expected to 3.1% in September.
* Still, investors have raised their bets on a Bank of Canada interest rate hike next week after Governor Tiff Macklem said on Saturday there was increased risk that inflation broadens and becomes more persistent.
* "If they were to hike, they're going to be slowing down an economy that's already moving at a snail's pace," said Allan Small, senior investment adviser at the Allan Small Financial Group with iA Private Wealth.