January 30 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index dropped on Thursday, as fears of the economic impact of a globally spreading coronavirus weighed down oil prices.
Countries have started isolating hundreds of citizens evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan to stop the spread of the epidemic that has killed 170 people. All eyes were on the World Health Organisation (WHO), which hasn't declared the flu-like coronavirus a global emergency, but was to reconsider its position later in the day.
Meanwhile, investors also considered the possibility of an early OPEC meeting.
March futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 0.47% at 7:00 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's TSX index rose 0.06% to 17,511.75 on Wednesday.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures were down 0.73% at 7:00 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures were down 0.77% and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures were down 0.69%.
TOP STORIES [TOP/CAN]
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Wednesday he expected the Canadian parliament to approve a new North American trade agreement very quickly, paving the way for the trade pact to take effect soon.
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS [RCH/CA]
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd: CIBC raises price target to C$380 from C$365
Fortis Inc: CIBC cuts rating to "neutral" from "outperformer"
Intact Financial Corp: National Bank of Canada raises price target to C$148 from C$139
COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET
Gold futures: $1583.6; +0.64% [GOL/]
US crude: $52.16; -2.19% [O/R]
Brent crude: $58.37; -2.41% [O/R]
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 GDP advance for Q4: Expected 2.1%; prior 2.1%
0830 GDP sales advance for Q4: Expected 2.1%; prior 2.1%
0830 GDP cons spending advance for Q4: Prior 3.2%
0830 GDP deflator advance for Q4: Expected 1.8%; prior 1.7%
0830 Core PCE prices advance for Q4: Expected 1.7%; prior 2.1%
0830 PCE prices advance for Q4: Expected 1.7%; prior 1.5%
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 215,000; prior 211,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 213,250
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 1.733 mln; prior 1.731 mln
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