Dec 19 (Reuters) - Canada stock futures were slightly higher on Monday as a weaker dollar and delay of new Libyan oil exports propped up crude prices.
Investors will also look for comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's speech at the University of Baltimore, less than a week after the Fed raised interest rates for only the second time since the financial crisis.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.08 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index rose on Friday as higher oil prices boosted heavyweight energy stocks and gold miners recovered as the price of bullion steadied. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.13 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.09 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.09 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNC_US.pdf ; The Day Ahead newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/The_Day_Ahead/TDA_NAM.pdf)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Toronto-based insurance group Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd FFH.TO has agreed to buy Swiss insurer Allied World Assurance Company Holdings AG AWH.N for $4.9 billion in cash and stock, the companies said on Sunday. Ltd BB.TO will open an autonomous driving research center as it tries to make itself an indispensable under-the-hood piece of the automotive industry's weaponry in the self-driving vehicle arms race. equity firm Onex Corp ONEX.TO said on Friday it has agreed to acquire caravan holiday parks operator Parkdean Resorts for C$2.25 billion. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Bombardier BBDb.TO : Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) raises target price to C$1.91 from C$1.81
Emera Inc EMA.TO : Barclays (LON:BARC) cuts target price to C$51 from C$52
Yamana Gold YRI.TO : BMO cuts rating to "market perform"- trader
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,138.5; +0.23 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $52.08; +0.35 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $55.39; +0.33 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5,565.50; -1.24 pct MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON MONDAY
0945 Markit Composite Flash PMI for Dec: Prior 54.90
0945 Markit Services PMI Flash for Dec: Prior 54.6
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Canadian dollar and bonds report CAD/ CA/
Reuters global stocks poll for Canada EQUITYPOLL1 EPOLL/CA
Canadian markets directory CANADA
($1= C$1.34)