March 4 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher
opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday as oil prices
extended gains ahead of the monthly U.S. jobs data.
A Reuters poll of economists forecasts U.S. economy to have
added 190,000 jobs last month, with the overall unemployment
level staying at an eight-year low of 4.9 percent.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.33
percent at 7:30 a.m. ET.
Trade balance and labor productivity data are due at 8:30
a.m. ET and Ivey PMI at 10:00 a.m. ET ECONCA .
Canada's main stock index hit a 2016 high on Thursday as
energy stocks rose despite a petered out oil rally, and other
resources stocks gained as commodity prices more generally
reflected increased confidence in prospects for global growth.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up
0.19 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET. S&P 500 e-mini futures Esc1 were
up 0.18 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up
0.33 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s;
The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau persuaded the
country's 10 provinces on Thursday to accept the concept of
putting a price on carbon but agreed the specific details could
be worked out later. AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,265.7; +0.6 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $34.65; +0.23 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $37.25; +0.49 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,907.50; +1.08 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Black Diamond Group BDI.TO : RBC cuts target price to
C$6.50 from C$7; rating "sector perform"
Canadian Natural Resources CNQ.TO : CIBC ups target price
to C$40 from C$36; rating "sector outperformer"
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc SNC.TO : CIBC raises target price to
C$48 from C$47
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
0830 Non-farm payrolls for Feb: Expected 190000; Prior
151000
0830 Private payrolls for Feb: Expected 185000; Prior 158000
0830 Manufacturing payrolls for Feb: Expected 0; Prior 29000
0830 Government payrolls for Feb: Prior -7000
0830 Unemployment rate for Feb: Expected 4.9 pct; Prior 4.9
pct
0830 Average earnings mm for Feb: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior
0.5 pct
0830 Average workweek hours for Feb: Expected 34.6 hrs;
Prior 34.6 hrs
0830 Labor force participation for Feb: Prior 62.7 pct
0830 U6 underemployment for Feb: Prior 9.9 pct
0830 International trade mm for Jan: Expected -$44.0 bln;
Prior -$43.4 bln
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$1.34)