Canada's main stock index fell Wednesday because financial stocks fell in late trade after the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's benchmark Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index fell 30.98 points, or 0.20 percent to close the day at 15,171.39.

The Canadian dollar rocketed 0.37 cents to 80.31 cents U.S while oil prices gained 84 cents to 48.73 U.S. dollars a barrel.

Gold prices jumped sharply, by 8.60, to 1,260.70 U.S. dollars an ounce.