April 21 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was set for a modestly lower opening on Friday after oil prices fell over doubts that OPEC-lead production cut will restore balance to an oversupplied market.
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.04 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Investors will look forward to inflation data scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. Data from Statistics Canada is likely to show the country's annual inflation rate slipped to 1.8 percent in March from 2 percent in February. ECONCA
Canada's main stock index rose on Thursday after shares of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd CP.TO jumped on an upbeat earnings report and mining shares benefited from a gain in commodity prices. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.05 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.13 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.19 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canadian engineering and construction company SNC-Lavalin Group Inc SNC.TO on Thursday said it would buy British engineering and consultancy firm WS Atkins Plc ATKW.L for C$3.6 billion ($2.67 bill1ion), firming up an indicative offer it made earlier this month. a move seen as a victory for net neutrality advocates, Canada's telecom regulator said all data delivered online should be treated equally by internet service providers as it blocked one company's effort to leverage content to win customers. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
First Quantum Minerals Ltd FM.TO : Barclays (LON:BARC) cuts target price to C$14.00 from C$14.20
Home Capital Group Inc HCG.TO : TD Securities cuts target price to C$23 from C$33
Hudson's Bay Co HBC.TO : Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) cuts rating to "neutral" from "outperform"
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1281.8; -0.01 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $50.65; -0.12 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $52.97; -0.04 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5637; +0.25 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
0945 Markit Composite Flash PMI for Apr: Prior 53.00
0945 Markit Manufacturing PMI Flash for Apr: Expected 53.5; Prior 53.3
0945 Markit Services PMI Flash for Apr: Expected 53.0; Prior 52.8
1000 Existing home sales for Mar: Expected 5.60 mln; Prior 5.48 mln
1000 Existing home sales percentage change for Mar: Expected 2.5 pct; Prior -3.7 pct
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 145.2
1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 7.1 pct
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Canadian markets directory CANADA ($1= C$1.35)