Feb 19 (Reuters) - Stock futures suggested a lower opening
for Canada's main stock index on Friday as oil prices fell after
a record build in U.S. crude inventories last week stoked
concerns over persistent global oversupply.
Crude stocks rose by 2.1 million barrels to a peak of 504.1
million, data from the U.S. government's Energy Information
Administration (EIA) showed on Thursday.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.5
percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Inflation numbers and retail sales data are due at 8:30 a.m.
ET ECONCA .
Annual inflation rate is expected to have edged up slightly
in January to 1.7 percent from 1.6 percent in December. Last
month's annual core inflation rate is estimated at 1.9 percent,
same as the previous month. Meanwhile, retail sales in December
are predicted to have dropped by 0.6 percent from November.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index gained
for a fourth straight session on Thursday, sustaining a six-week
high, as gold, consumer and telecom stocks rose.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were
down 0.35 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures
Esc1 were down 0.35 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures
NQc1 were down 0.40 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s;
The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORY TOP/CAN
Fairfax Holdings FFH.TO reported a lower-than-expected
quarterly profit, hurt by higher losses on its investments.
AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,221.80; -0.35 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $30.13; -2.08 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $33.65; -1.84 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,594.00; +0.4 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Bank of Montreal BMO.TO : KBW cuts target price to C$77
from C$79
Canadian Tire Corp CTCa.TO : Barclays (L:BARC) raises target price
to C$143 from C$140; rating "overweight"
OceanaGold Corp OGC.TO : National Bank Financial raises
target price to C$3.85 from C$3.65
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
0830 CPI mm, SA for Jan: Expected -0.1 pct; Prior -0.1 pct
0830 CPI yy, NSA for Jan: Expected 1.3 pct; Prior 0.7 pct
0830 Core CPI mm, SA for Jan: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior 0.2
pct
0830 Core CPI yy, NSA for Jan: Expected 2.1 pct; Prior 2.1
pct
0830 CPI Index, NSA for Jan: Expected 236.60; Prior 236.53
0830 Core CPI Index, SA for Jan: Prior 244.52
0830 Real Weekly earnings mm for Jan: Prior 0.1 pct
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 130.0
1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior -2.6 pct
1130 Cleveland Fed CPI for Jan: Prior 0.1 pct
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:
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Reuters global stocks poll for Canada EQUITYPOLL1
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Canadian markets directory CANADA
($1= C$1.38)