Canada's services economy contracted for a fifth straight month in March as uncertainty related to the war in the Middle East contributed to a decline in new business and after higher fuel costs raised operating expenses, S&P Global's Canada services PMI data showed on Monday. The headline Business Activity Index rose to 47.2 last month from 46.5 in February. That marked the index's highest reading in five months but it remained below the 50 no-change mark - a reading below 50 shows deterioration in activity.