June 16 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a lower opening
for Canada's main stock index on Thursday, as oil prices fell
for a sixth straight day and the Bank of Canada warned of "very
choppy" growth.
Crude prices hit their lowest in more than three weeks as
U.S. crude stocks fell less than expected and concerns over
Britain's future in the European Union weighed. O/R
However, gold rallied to a two-year high after the Federal
Reserve sounded a less dovish note and as the U.S. dollar sank
to a 21-month low versus the yen.
Higher gold prices helped Canada's benchmark stock index end
a streak of five days of declines on Wednesday as miners and
other materials stocks led a broad but subdued rebound.
Adding to the pressure on Thursday was a report from the
Bank of Canada late on Wednesday that said economic growth was
likely to be flat or slightly negative in the second quarter due
to the impact of the Alberta wildfires.
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.35
percent at 7:15 a.m. ET on Thursday.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were
down 0.30 percent. S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.35
percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.35
percent.
TOP STORIES
Spending on clean energy projects in Canada fell 16 percent
in 2015 compared with the record investments of the prior year
and a renewed push to cut emissions may not lead to a rebound
until 2018, an advocacy group said on Thursday.
Canada's WestJet Airlines WJA.TO said Wednesday it would
consider a slightly larger version of Boeing (NYSE:BA) Co's BA.N 737 MAX
7 jet with more seats, as the carrier prepares to take delivery
of 65 narrowbodies from the planemaker through 2027.
AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,305.00; +1.49 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $47.35; -1.40 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $48.31; -1.35 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,532.00; -2.36 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Alterra Power AXY.TO : NBF raises rating to "outperform"
from "sector perform"
Corus Entertainment Inc CJRb.TO : NBF raises target price
to C$12.50 from C$11.50
Transcontinental Inc TCLa.TO : CIBC raises rating to
"sector outperformer" from "sector performer"
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Consumer Prices mm, SA for May: Expected 0.3 pct; Prior
0.4 pct
0830 Consumer Prices yy, NSA for May: Expected 1.1 pct;
Prior 1.1 pct
0830 Core Consumer Prices mm, SA for May: Expected 0.2 pct;
Prior 0.2 pct
0830 Core Consumer Prices yy, NSA for May: Expected 2.2 pct;
Prior 2.1 pct
0830 Consumer Prices Index, NSA for May: Expected 240.36;
Prior 239.26
0830 Core Consumer Prices Index, SA for May: Prior 246.57
0830 Real weekly earnings mm for May: Prior 0.2 pct
0830 Current account for Q1: Expected -125.0 bln; Prior
-125.3 bln
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 270,000; Prior 264,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 269,500
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.120 mln; Prior
2.095 mln
0830 Philly Fed Business Index for Jun: Prior -1.8
0830 Philly Fed 6M Index for Jun: Prior 36.10
0830 Philly Fed Capex Index for Jun: Prior 23.60
0830 Philly Fed Employment for Jun: Prior -3.30
0830 Philly Fed Prices Paid for Jun: Prior 15.70
0830 Philly Fed New Orders for Jun: Prior -1.90
1000 NAHB Housing Market Index for Jun: Expected 59; Prior
58
1130 Cleveland fed CPI for May: Prior 0.3 pct
($1= C$1.30)