Canada's main stock index declined Wednesday as China's latest data showed that factory activity shrank for the fourth consecutive month in April.

The benchmark Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed down 22.58 points, or 0.16 percent, to 14,533.39 points as the financial and health care shares weighed.

As one of the biggest buyer of the world's commodities, China aroused the investors' concern when the latest manufacturing data indicated the weakening signs of the economy, although the shrinking pace was slowing down. The preliminary version of HSBC's purchasing managers' index edged up to 48.3 from 48.0 in March.

The basic metals sector lost 0.26 percent in response, with Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc., Canada's biggest integrated fertilizer down 2.44 percent to 38.35 Canadian dollars (about 34.76 US dollars).

The index was also dragged down by the financial group. The most weighed sector in the composite index lost 0.29 percent, as big banks were in the red. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lost 0.69 percent to 95.65 Canadian dollars, and Pacific & Western Credit Corp. vapored 6.73 percent to settle at 20.23 Canadian dollars per share.

The health care, however, suffered the biggest slump on Wednesday by pulling back 1.37 percent, although this sector led the gainers Tuesday by more than three percent. The Canadian drug maker Valeant lost 2.76 percent to 145.25 Canadian dollars.

On the currency front, the Canadian dollar moved up to 0.9065 USdollar on Wednesday, compared with 0.9068 US dollar in the previous session.