Stock futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday as U.S. crude prices fell below $50 per barrel and investors geared up for a likely increase in interest rate this month by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.17 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
New home prices data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET ECONCA
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed down 0.72 percent at 15,496.98 on Wednesday, falling more than 100 points as a sharp drop in oil prices weighed on energy shares, while the financial and industrial groups also lost ground. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.12 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.07 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L has agreed to sell most of its Canadian oil sands assets for $8.5 billion, the latest international oil major to withdraw from the costly projects, which are among the most carbon heavy. Cathay Financial Holding Co 2882.TW is in exclusive talks to acquire the Malaysian unit of Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia BNS.TO , in a deal that could be valued at around $200 million to $300 million. auto parts maker Linamar Corp LNR.TO on Wednesday reported a 21.8 percent increase in quarterly profit, helped in part by the acquisition of France's Montupet SA last year. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Pretium Resources Inc PVG.TO : RBC raises rating to "outperform" from "sector perform"
Yellow Pages Ltd Y.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts rating to "speculative buy" from "buy"
Bellatrix Exploration BXE.TO : Canaccord Genuity raises rating to "speculative buy" from "hold"
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1204.5; -0.33 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $49.3; -2.29 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $52.15; -2.13 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5667.5; -1.74 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
08:30 Import prices mm for Feb: Expected 0.1 pct; Prior 0.4 pct
08:30 Export prices mm for Feb: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior 0.1 pct
08:30 Initial jobless claims: Expected 235,000; Prior 223,000
08:30 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 234,250
08:30 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.060 mln; Prior 2.066 mln
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