March 8 (Reuters) - Canadian stock futures were little changed on Wednesday as investors awaited February's housing market data.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.07 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Data on housing starts for February will be released at 8:15 a.m. ET, followed by January building permits and labor productivity data for the fourth quarter, due at 8:30 a.m. ET ECONCA
Housing starts for last month are forecast to dip only slightly to 200,000 from 207,400, suggesting that activity in the country's housing market is not slowing just yet.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed down 0.13 percent at 15,608.78 on Tuesday as lower commodity prices weighed on mining and energy shares, while the industrial and financial services groups also lost ground. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.04 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.04 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.02 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canada posted a third consecutive monthly trade surplus in January, the first such stretch since 2014, in another signal that the economy is gaining momentum after slumping for more than two years due to low oil prices. Baazov, who is facing insider trading charges stemming from his time as chief executive officer of Amaya Inc AYA.TO , said on Tuesday that he pocketed C$133 million from the sale of close to 30 percent of the shares he held in the online gambling company. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Agellan Commercial REIT ACR_u.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$11.75 from C$11
Bellatrix Exploration BXE.TO : Canaccord Genuity raises rating to "speculative buy" from "hold"
Brookfield Renewable Partners LP BEP_u.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$45 from C$44
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1212.2; -0.24 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $52.57; -1.07 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $55.34; -1.02 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5795; +0.4 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY
08:15 ADP national employment for Feb: Expected 190,000; Prior 246,000
08:30 Labor costs revised for Q4: Expected 1.6 pct; Prior 1.7 pct
08:30 Productivity revised for Q4: Expected 1.5 pct; Prior 1.3 pct
10:00 Wholesale inventory, R mm for Jan: Expected -0.1 pct; Prior -0.1 pct
10:00 Wholesale sales mm for Jan: Expected 0.5 pct; Prior 2.6 pct
11:00 TR IPSOS PCSI for Mar: Prior 59.90
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