July 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index futures pointed to a higher start on Friday ahead of the release of data on inflation and retail sales.
Canada's annual inflation rate is expected to have dropped to 1.4 percent in June from 1.5 percent in May, while core inflation rate is seen falling to 2.0 percent from 2.1 percent.
Retail sales are expected to have stayed flat in May after rising 0.9 percent in April.
Statistics Canada is scheduled to release the data at 8:30 a.m. ET. ECONCA
September futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.27 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index rose to an 11-month high on Thursday as mining stocks rallied and strong earnings reports boosted the shares of Rogers Communications Inc RCIb.TO and Encana Corp ECA.TO . Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.18 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.21 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.17 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Husky Energy Inc HSE.TO , Canada's No. 3 integrated oil company, reported a second-quarter loss compared with a year-earlier profit as production fell due to planned maintenance and the Fort McMurray wildfire in Alberta. Pharmaceuticals International Inc VRX.TO VRX.N said on Friday that U.S. regulators have raised concerns over a new eye drop manufactured at a Bausch + Lomb facility in Florida. AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,330.70; +0.02 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $44.81; +0.13 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $46.35; +0.32 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,969; -0.14 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Loblaw Cos Ltd L.TO : Barclays (LON:BARC) raises price target to C$78 from C$77
Rogers Communications Inc RCIb.TO : Canaccord Genuity raises price target to C$55 from C$50
Westjet Airlines Ltd WJA.TO : Raymond James raises price target to C$22.25 from C$20.50
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
0945 Markit Manufacturing PMI Flash for Jul: Expected 51.6; Prior 51.3
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 137.0
1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 6.9 pct
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