Feb 23 (Reuters) - Futures on Canada's main stock index were trading higher on Thursday as oil prices strengthened after a report showed a decline in U.S. crude inventories, lending support to the view that a global glut is nearing its end.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.2 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index fell the most in three weeks on Wednesday, pulling back from a record high set the day before as lower commodity prices pressured shares of energy and materials companies. major Canadian economic releases are scheduled. ECONCA
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.04 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.02 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.03 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce CM.TO , Canada's fifth-biggest lender, reported a 13 percent rise in first-quarter earnings, buoyed by growth in its retail, wealth management and capital markets businesses. and pharmacy retailer Loblaw Cos Ltd L.TO reported a 57 percent rise in quarterly profit, helped partly by a drop in expenses in its retail segment and improved performances in its financial services and property businesses. Point Energy Corp CPG.TO reported a bigger quarterly loss from a year earlier, mainly hurt by one-time charges of about C$457 million. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO : Canaccord Genuity raises target price to C$30 from C$29; rating "buy"
Maple Leaf Foods Inc MFI.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$35 from C$34
West Fraser Timber Co Ltd WFT.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$59 from C$50
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1237.7; +0.46 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $54.3; +1.32 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $56.58; +1.33 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5991.5; -0.8 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
08:30 Initial jobless claims: Expected 241,000; Prior 239,000
08:30 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 245,250
08:30 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.068 mln; Prior 2.076 mln
08:30 National Activity Index for Jan: Prior 0.14
09:00 Monthly home price mm for Dec: Prior 0.5 pct
09:00 Monthly home price yy for Dec: Prior 6.1 pct
09:00 Monthly Home Price Index for Dec: Prior 241.3
11:00 KC Fed Manufacturing for Feb: Prior 20
11:00 KC Fed Composite Index for Feb: Prior 9
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