Jan 28 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index futures were
trading modestly higher on Thursday as oil prices jumped to
three-week highs on hopes that major producers would cut output,
a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates
unchanged.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.18
percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
No major economic events are scheduled for the day ECONCA .
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index rallied
on Wednesday as strength in crude oil prices supported energy
and banking stocks, although paring gains after the U.S. Federal
Reserve interest rate decision.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were
down 0.08 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures
Esc1 were up 0.07 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1
were up 0.4 percent.
TOP STORIES
Potash Corp of Saskatchewan POT.TO reported a
lower-than-expected quarterly profit and slashed its quarterly
dividend, hurt by weakening fertilizer prices.
Shares of Canadian train and plane maker Bombardier
BBDb.TO closed below C$1 on Wednesday for the first time since
1991, putting the company at risk of being pushed out of major
Canadian indices.
Enbridge Inc ENB.TO , Canada's largest pipeline company,
said it would buy Murphy Oil (N:MUR) Corp's MUR.N Tupper Main and
Tupper West gas plants in northeastern British Columbia for
C$538 million ($382 million).
AT 7:15 a.m. gold futures GCc1 : $1,121.30; +0.49 pct
US crude CLc1 : $32.29; -0.03 pct
Brent crude LCOc1 : $33.27; +0.63 pct
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,532.00; -1.26 pct
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd CNQ.TO : Barclays (L:BARC) cuts
target price to C$30 from C$37
CGI Group Inc GIBa.TO : BMO raises price target to C$63
from C$59; rating "outperform"
Rogers Communications RCIb.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts
price target by C$1 to C$50; rating "hold"
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Durable goods for Dec: Expected -0.6 pct; Prior 0.0 pct
0830 Durables ex-transport for Dec: Expected -0.1 pct; Prior
0.0 pct
0830 Durables ex-defense mm for Dec: Prior -1.5 pct
0830 Nondefense cap ex-air for Dec: Expected -0.2 pct; Prior
-0.3 pct
0830 Initial Jobless Claims: Expected 282,000; Prior 293,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 285,000
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.217 mln; Prior
2.208 mln
1000 Pending Homes Index for Dec: Prior 106.9
1000 Pending sales change mm for Dec: Expected 0.8 pct;
Prior -0.9 pct
1100 KC Fed Manufacturing for Jan: Prior -8
1100 KC Fed Composite Index for Jan: Prior -9
($1= C$1.43)