• TSX ends down 0.1% at 24,439.08
• Energy slides 4.8%; oil settles 4.4% lower
• Canada's annual inflation rate slows to 1.6%
• Utilities sector climbs 1.9%

Oct 15 (Reuters) - Canada's commodity-linked main stock index fell on Tuesday as a drop in oil prices offset cooler-than-expected inflation data that bolstered expectations for an outsized interest rate cut from the Bank of Canada.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index (.GSPTSE) , opens new tab ended down 32.09 points, or 0.1%, at 24,439.08 after notching on Friday a record closing high.

"Canada remains vulnerable to selling pressure related to the selloff in the price of oil," said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management.

U.S. crude oil futures settled 4.4% lower at $70.58 a barrel after a media report said Israel would not strike Iranian nuclear and oil sites, easing fears of a supply disruption.

The energy sector tumbled 4.8%, with Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNQ.TO) , opens new tab, Canada's largest oil and gas producer, down 5.7%. Technology also lost ground, falling 0.5%.

Canada's annual inflation rate slowed more than expected to 1.6% in September, prompting investors to price in a 74% chance of a 50-basis-point rate cut by the BoC next week, up from 50% before the data.

"The inflation number kind of helps, but Canadian markets don't always trade-off of Canadian economic data," Cieszynski said.

The real estate and utilities sectors, which include many high-dividend paying stocks that could particularly benefit from a faster pace of rate cuts, added 1.4% and 1.9% respectively.

Healthcare also notched gains, rising 2.1%, led by a 5.7% jump in the shares of pharmaceutical company Bausch Health Companies Inc (BHC.TO) , opens new tab.

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https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/tsx-futures-slip-investors-await-domestic-inflation-data-2024-10-15/