Sept 1 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday as oil prices steadied on hopes that producers were moving towards a common ground on a potential output freeze.
September futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.24 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Saudi Arabia's minister of foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said in Tokyo it would be reasonable for the kingdom to go along with other producers in changes to oil production. of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are scheduled to meet informally in Algeria on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum on Sept. 26-28.
Royal Bank of Canada's seasonally adjusted manufacturing PMI data is due at 9:30 a.m. ET. ECONCA
Canada's main stock index fell on Wednesday as lower oil and gold prices weighed on energy companies and miners, while financial and other interest rate-sensitive stocks slipped as investors considered the likely path of U.S. interest rates. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.21 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET. S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.18 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.29 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Chinese and Canadian firms signed 56 deals worth more than C$1.2 billion ($914.8 million) at a ceremony, Canadian trade minister Chrystia Freeland said. American farmers will pressure regulators to protect their negotiating leverage with fertilizer suppliers if Potash Corp of Saskatchewan POT.TO and Agrium Inc AGU.TO agree to merge, major farm groups said on Wednesday. Pharmaceuticals Inc, a unit of Japan's Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co Ltd 4506.T , said on Wednesday it would buy Canada's Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc CTH.TO for about $624 million. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ATDb.TO : TD Securities raises target price to C$87 from C$85
National Bank Of Canada NA.TO : TD Securities raises target price to C$47 from C$43
Victoria Gold Corp VIT.V : National Bank Financial reinstates with "outperform" rating; C$0.75 target price
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1305; -0.15 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $44.7; -0.02 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $46.85; -0.13 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4635; +0.41 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 265,000; Prior 261,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 264,000
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.145 mln; Prior 2.145 mln
0830 Labor costs revised for Q2: Expected 2.1 pct; Prior 2.0 pct
0830 Productivity revised for Q2: Expected -0.6 pct; Prior -0.5 pct
0945 Markit Manufacturing PMI Final for August: Prior 52.1
1000 Construction spending mm for July: Expected 0.5 pct; Prior -0.6 pct
1000 ISM Manufacturing PMI for August: Expected 52.0; Prior 52.6
1000 ISM Manufacturing Prices Paid for August: Expected 54.5; Prior 55.0
1000 ISM Manufacturing Employment Index for August: Expected 49.6; Prior 49.4
1000 ISM Manufacturing New Orders Index for August: Prior 56.9
1330 Domestic car sales for August: Expected 5.08 mln; Prior 5.16 mln
1330 Domestic truck sales for August: Expected 8.51 mln; Prior 9.10 mln
1330 Total vehicle sales for August: Expected 17.25 mln; Prior 17.88 mln
1330 All car sales for August: Prior 7.09 mln
1330 All truck sales for August: Prior 10.79 mln
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($1 = C$1.31)