April 26 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday as oil prices slipped after data showed a rise in U.S. crude inventories.
Crude stockpiles rose 897,000 barrels in the week to April 21, according to the report, defying expectations of a fall of 1.7 million barrels. Data also showed a large build in gasoline stocks, unusual for this time of the year. futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.03 percent at 7:25 a.m. ET.
Canadian Retail sales is due at 8.30 a.m. ET ECONCA .
Canada's main stock index notched a two-month high on Tuesday, led by gains for heavyweight financial and energy stocks, while shares of lumber companies rallied after new U.S. import duties on the product came out lower than some investors had expected. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.08 percent at 7:25 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures Esc1 were down 0.08 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 up 0.04 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
The United States and Canada faced off on Tuesday in a renewed battle over softwood lumber that threatened to spill over into multiple other sectors, though President Donald Trump said he did not fear a trade war. oil company Cenovus Energy Inc CVE.TO , CVE.N reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss as operating costs fell, while oil sands production rose. Gold ABX.TO gave details on Tuesday of $500 million worth of improvements and expansions it is planning at its Veladero mine in Argentina over the next five years, on a day when its stock price sank 11 percent on disappointing earnings. AT 7:15 a.m. ET
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,265; - 0.08 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $49.25; -0.63 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $51.74; -0.69 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5706.5; -0.01 percent MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
AG Growth International AFN.TO : RBC raises target price to C$60 from C$58
Metro Inc MRU.TO : CIBC raises price target to C$48 from C$43
Parex Resources Inc PXT.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$21.50 from C$18.50
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY
08:30 Building permits R number mm for Mar: Prior 1.260 mln
08:30 Building permits R change mm for Mar: Prior 3.6 pct
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