Feb 8 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday as oil prices dipped on higher U.S. crude inventories and a slump in Chinese demand.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.05 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's housing starts annualized data is scheduled for release at 8:15 a.m. ET, while TR IPSOS PCSI data for February is due at 11:00 am ET. ECONCA
Canada's main stock index rose on Tuesday, with gains among heavyweight financial stocks on talk of a U.S. interest rate hike in March offsetting losses for shares of energy companies as oil prices weighed. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.06 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.01 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.06 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Disruptions at the world's two biggest copper mines by strikes and other issues this week are threatening to reduce global supplies of the metal, pushing benchmark prices back towards their highest levels for the year so far. BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX said it would halt output in Chile at its Escondida mine. Freeport-McMoRan Inc FCX.N warned it will scale back output at its Grasberg mine in Indonesia. Canadian government on Tuesday announced C$372.5 million ($283 million) in repayable loans for two of Bombardier Inc 's BBDb.TO jet programs, promising to defend the deal against a potential trade challenge by Brazil. at Canadian Natural Resources ' CNQ.TO Baobab and Espoir oil and gas fields in Ivory Coast launched a 72-hour strike early on Wednesday over employment conditions, the head of their union said. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Genworth MI Canada Inc MIC.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$40 from C$37
TMX Group Ltd X.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$74 from C$68
Westjet Airlines Ltd WJA.TO : CIBC cuts target price to C$25 from C$26.5
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1237.5; +0.27 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $51.76; -0.79 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $54.79; -0.47 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5887; +1.59 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY
11:00 TR IPSOS PCSI for Feb: Prior 58.09
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