(Updates with Canadian retail sales and inflation data)
April 22 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher start
for Canada's main stock index on Friday as oil prices hovered
near $45 per barrel and after Canada's retail sales and
inflation data.
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.10
percent at 8:45 a.m. ET.
Retail sales unexpectedly rose for a second straight month
in February as consumers bought more clothing and cars, data
from Statistics Canada showed on Friday.
Annual inflation rate cooled last month as lower gasoline
prices pulled the rate closer to the lower end of the central
bank's target range, data showed.
Canada's main stock index fell on Thursday as losses for
financial and consumer shares offset gains for resource stocks
and a jump in shares of a healthcare company on reported
takeover interest.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up
0.04 percent at 8:45 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures
ESc1 were up 0.07 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1
were down 0.15 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s;
The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Drugmaker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE:VRX) VRX.TO
is seeking to appoint Perrigo Co (NYSE:PRGO) Plc's PRGO.N boss Joseph Papa
as its new chief executive, a source familiar with the matter
said.
A $1 billion Canadian government aid package for Bombardier
Inc BBDb.TO should not be delayed over fears that the
plane-and-train maker could outsource jobs to Mexico or China,
the head of Canada's largest private sector union said on
Thursday.
Shares of Canada's Concordia Healthcare Corp CXR.TO
CXRX.O surged 25 percent on Thursday after Bloomberg reported
that U.S. private equity firm Blackstone (NYSE:BX) Group LP BX.N is
considering a takeover, citing people familiar with the matter.
AT 8:45 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,246.80; -0.18 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $43.52; +0.72 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $44.85; +0.67 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5,016.50 ; +0.39 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Altagas Ltd ALA.TO : RBC cuts target price to C$33 from
C$36; rating sector perform
First Quantum Minerals FM.TO : CIBC starts with sector
outperformer rating; C$10 target
Teck Resources Ltd TCKb.TO : Barclays (LON:BARC) raises target to C$7
from C$5; rating underweight
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
0945 Markit Manufacturing PMI Flash for Apr: Expected 52.0;
Prior 51.5
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 134.2
1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 2.5 pct
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:
TSX market report .TO
Canadian dollar and bonds report CAD/ CA/
Reuters global stocks poll for Canada EQUITYPOLL1
EPOLL/CA
Canadian markets directory CANADA
($1 = C$1.27)