Aug 19 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday, ahead of July's inflation data.
Canada's inflation rate is expected to have cooled to 1.3 percent in July, bringing it closer to the lower end of Bank of Canada's 1-3 percent target. Separately, retail sales are expected to have climbed 0.5 percent in June, maintaining a robust pace. The data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. ECONCA
September futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.33 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index ended barely lower on Thursday as energy stock gains on higher oil prices were offset by weakness in bank shares and some consumer and telecommunications names and a reversal in Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE:VRX) VRX.TO . Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.25 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET. S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.25 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.25 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s ; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Crew Energy Inc CR.TO : Desjardins starts with "buy" rating; C$7.25 target price
Dollarama Inc DOL.TO : RBC raises target price to C$120 from C$111; rating "outperform"
Timmins Gold Corp TMM.TO : RBC raises target price to C$1 from C$0.70
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1343.5; -0.57 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $48.14; -0.08 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $50.69; -0.33 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4795.5; -0.33 percent MET/L
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$1.28)