June 9 (Reuters) - Stock futures were little changed for Canada's main stock index on Friday as investors await key economic data.
Canada is expected to have added 11,000 jobs in May, picking up the pace of employment as the economy recovers from 2015's oil price shock. The unemployment rate is forecast to edge up to 6.6 percent but that will likely be accompanied by an improvement in the participation rate. report is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. ECONCA
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.02 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index gained on Thursday, helped by rises for some of the country's biggest banking stocks and a sharp jump in Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:VRX) but weighed down by losses for gold miners. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.07 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET. S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.07 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.02 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 STORIES TOP/CAN
Oil and gas producer Encana Corp ECA.TO said it would sell its Piceance natural gas assets in northwestern Colorado to privately held Caerus Oil and Gas LLC for $735 million. largest energy supplier, Centrica Plc CNA.L , said it would sell its 60 percent stake in its Canadian oil and gas exploration and production joint venture to a consortium for about 240 million pounds ($305 million). Fifth Avenue owner Hudson's Bay Co HBC.TO said on Thursday it would cut about 2,000 jobs across North America in a major restructuring effort as it reported a bigger-than-expected first-quarter loss. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Transcontinental Inc TCLa.TO : BMO raises target price to C$25 from C$22
Transat AT Inc TRZ.TO : TD Securities raises price target to C$7 from C$5
ECN Capital Corp ECN.TO : National Bank of Canada raises price target to C$5 from C$4.75; rating "outperform"
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,274.3; -0.25 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $45.75; +0.24 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $47.97; +0.21 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5,783.50; +0.94 pct MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
10:00 Wholesale inventory(y), R mm for April: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior -0.3 pct
10:00 Wholesale sales mm for April: Prior 0.0 pct
10:30 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 143.7
10:30 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 4.6 pct
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$1.35)