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Canadian stocks are mostly lower today with the S&P/TSX composite index down 0.34%, giving back early gains for mining and energy stocks. The S&P/TSX Venture Composite index also is lower, down 0.15%.

In company news, shares of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. (SNC.TO) are higher for a second day after the chief executive of the engineering and construction company was forced to quit after an internal probe found he breached company policies by approving payments deemed inappropriate and as much as $53 million in company funds went missing. SNC shares are battling back from near year lows.

Pierre Duhaime, who ascended to the top rung at SNC in 2009, left abruptly after an independent board committee determined that he overruled his own chief financial officer and approved payments to an agent whose identity and function remains a mystery. Today's gains for the stock also are helped by an reported upgrade to Buy from Hold at TD Securities.

In other news, U.S.-listed shares of Canadian Pacific ( CP ) are down slightly less than 1% today despite management comments today at the rail carrier's yearly Investor Day that CP is committed to maintaining its investment gain credit rating. The company also again dismissed recent criticism from Pershing Square, including demands by the activist fund the company replace its CEO with a chief executive of Pershing Square's choosing.

CP officials also said today that pension costs remain an ongoing headwind, estimating $41 milion in pension expense this year and about $125 million in 2013 before topping out between $125 million to $135 million in following year. They added Pershing Square analysis of CP finances were "incomplete and dated," explaining the fund's proposal is "exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time," according to a theflyonthewall.com report.

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