March 10 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a slightly
higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday ahead
of the European Central Bank's decision on monetary policy.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.14
percent at 7:30 a.m. ET.
The euro zone's central bank is widely expected to cut its
deposit rate deeper into negative territory and adjust its 1.5
trillion euro asset-buying scheme.
New Housing Price Index and capacity utilization data is due
at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Canada's benchmark stock index rose on Wednesday, led by
energy stocks as crude oil prices rallied and as financial
stocks gained after the Bank of Canada chose to hold interest
rates steady.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up
0.34 percent at 7:30 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures
Esc1 were up 0.43 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1
were up 0.44 percent.
TOP STORIES
A long-awaited rebound in Canadian manufacturing is finally
taking hold as currency hedges and contracts priced when the
country's dollar was stronger expire, giving exporters a
competitive edge, executives in the sector say. AT 7:30 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,249.80; -0.54 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $38.26; -0.16 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $40.77; -0.73 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,919.00; -0.32 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Imperial Oil Ltd IMO.TO : RBC raises target price to C$46
from C$44; rating "sector perform"
Manitoba Telecom Services Inc MBT.TO : CIBC cuts rating to
"sector performer"
Transcontinental Inc TCLa.TO : CIBC raises target price to
C$22 from C$21
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 275,000; Prior 278,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 270,250
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.255 mln; Prior
2.257 mln
1400 Federal budget for Feb: Expected -$200.0 bln; Prior
$55.2 bln
($1= C$1.33)