TORONTO — Canada's main stock index was flat Friday, trading a tick lower despite gains in base metals, while U.S. markets traded higher Friday.

The S&P/TSX composite index was down 2.59 points at 27,758.68.

Markets experienced “exceptional volatility” Friday amid a roller-coaster day for gold, said John Bai, chief investment officer at Aviso Wealth.

Confusion swirled after the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency published a ruling on its website, dated July 31, that gold bars from Switzerland should be classified with a customs code subject to country-specific import tariffs.

That prompted an initial sell-off, said Bai. However, gold stocks rallied after multiple media outlets soon reported the White House planned to post an executive order in the near future clarifying what it

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