Sept 22 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged.
The central bank strongly signaled it could still tighten monetary policy by the end of this year as the labor market improved further. futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.29 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index notched its highest close in almost two weeks on Wednesday as gold miners surged after the U.S. Fed held interest rates steady, which also boosted shares of dividend-paying utility companies. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.29 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET. S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.27 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up down 0.30 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s ; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) GM.N will use its Oshawa, Ontario, assembly plant to expand production of pick-up trucks for North America if a tentative agreement with Canadian auto workers is ratified, sources familiar with Canadian labor negotiations said on Wednesday. Corp TRP.TO said its U.S. natural gas pipeline unit had reached a settlement with customers over proposed transportation rate hikes made earlier this year. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Emera Inc EMA.TO : Raymond James starts coverage with "market perform" rating, C$51.50 target price
Imperial Oil Ltd IMO.TO : Raymond James raises rating to "outperform" from "market perform"
TMX Group Ltd X.TO : TD Securities raises target price to C$69 from C$65
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,333.6; +0.48pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $45.80; +1.01 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $47.19; +0.77 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,828.00; +1.36 pct MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 262,000; Prior 260,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 260,750
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.143 mln; Prior 2.143 mln
0830 National Activity Index for August: Prior 0.27
0900 Monthly home price mm for July: Prior 0.2 pct
0900 Monthly home price yy for July: Prior 5.6 pct
0900 Monthly Home Price Index for July: Prior 234.8
1000 Existing home sales for August: Expected 5.45 mln; Prior 5.39 mln
1000 Existing home sales percentage change for August: Expected 1.1 pct; Prior -3.2 pct
1000 Leading index change mm for August: Expected 0.0 pct; Prior 0.4 pct
1100 KC Fed Manufacturing for September: Prior -7
1100 KC Fed Composite Index for September: Prior -4
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