(Adds jobs, trade data)
Jan 6 (Reuters) - Canadian stock futures reversed course and pointed to a higher opening for the main stock index on Friday after a report showed that the economy unexpectedly added jobs in December.
The economy added 53,700 jobs in the previous month, Data from Statistics Canada showed, compared with analysts' forecast of no change in employment. report showed that Canada posted an unexpected trade surplus of C$526 million in November, the first in more than two years. the United States, employment increased less than expected in December but a rebound in wages pointed to sustained labor market momentum. This could encourage faster rate hikes by the Federal Reserve this year. futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.02 percent at 8:45 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index extended its new year rally to a third day on Thursday, as gold miners and other materials stocks rose with higher commodity prices. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.03 percent at 8:45 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.06 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.12 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNC_US.pdf ; The Day Ahead newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/The_Day_Ahead/TDA_NAM.pdf)
TOP STORY TOP/CAN
Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT) WMT.N and Visa Inc (NYSE:V) M V.N reached an agreement to continue offering Visa as a payment option for customers in Canada, the companies said on Thursday. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Air Canada AC.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$19.50 from C$17.50
Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$2.50 from C$2.25
Telus Corp T.TO : Canaccord Genuity raises rating to "buy" from "hold"
COMMODITIES AT 8:45 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,177.4; -0.34 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $54.17; +0.76 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $57.26; +0.65 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5,567.50; -0.22 pct MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA ON FRIDAY
0830 Non-farm payrolls for Dec: Actual 156,000; Revised 204,000
0830 Private payrolls for Dec: Actual 144,000; Revised 198,000
0830 Manufacturing payrolls for Dec: Actual 17,000; Revised -7,000
0830 Government payrolls for Dec: Actual 12,000; Revised 6,000
0830 Unemployment rate for Dec: Actual 4.7 pct; Prior 4.6 pct
0830 Average earnings mm for Dec: Actual 0.4 pct; Prior -0.1 pct
0830 Average workweek hours for Dec: Actual 34.3 hrs; Revised 34.3 hrs
0830 Labor force participation for Dec: Actual 62.7 pct; Revised 62.76pct
0830 U6 underemployment for Dec: Actual 9.2 pct; Prior 9.3 pct
0830 International trade mm for Nov: Actual -$45.2 bln; Revised -$42.4 bln
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
1000 Durables ex-defense, R mm for Nov: Prior -6.6 pct
1000 Durable goods, R mm for Nov: Prior -4.6 pct
1000 Factory orders mm for Nov: Expected -2.2 pct; Prior 2.7 pct
1000 Durables ex-transport R mm for Nov: Prior 0.5 pct
1000 Nondefense cap ex-air R mm for Nov: Prior 0.9 pct
1000 Factory ex-transport mm for Nov: Prior 0.8 pct
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 144.0
1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 11.8 pct
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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$1.32)