(Updates with economic data)
March 18 (Reuters) - Canadian stock futures added to gains
on Friday, after data showed higher-than-expected retail sales
and slowing annual inflation.
Data from Statistics Canada showed annual inflation was 1.4
percent in February, modestly exceeding analysts' expectations
for a pullback to 1.5 percent from January's 2.0
percent.
Separately, data from Statistics Canada showed that Canadian
retail sales rose far more than expected in January, boosted by
motor vehicle purchases and a rebound in a number of sectors
that slumped at the end of last year.
Sales rose 2.1 percent, topping analysts' expectations for a
gain of 0.6 percent.
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.29
percent at 8:45 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index rose to a four-month high on
Thursday as higher oil prices supported energy stocks, while the
financial and industrial sectors also gained.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc2 were up
0.26 percent at 8:45 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures
Esc2 were up 0.28 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc2
were up 0.21 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s;
The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canada's BRP Inc DOO.TO , the maker of Ski-Doo snowmobiles
and Sea-Doo watercraft, swung to a quarterly loss, hurt by a
C$70 million impairment charge on its outboard engine assets.
Canada's Paramount Resources Ltd POU.TO agreed on Thursday
to sell a natural gas processing complex in the Montney shale
formation in Alberta to Pembina Pipeline Corp PPL.TO for C$556
million ($428 million) in cash. AT 8:45 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,251.50; -1.03 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $41.03; +2.09 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $42.28; +1.76 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5,073.00; +0.05 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Silver Wheaton Corp SLW.TO : Dundee raises target price to
C$28 from C$25
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
1000 U Mich Sentiment Preliminary for Mar: Expected 92.2;
Prior 91.7
1000 U Mich Conditions Preliminary for Mar: Expected 107.0;
Prior 106.8
1000 U Mich Expectations Preliminary for Mar: Expected 82.3;
Prior 81.9
1000 U Mich 1 year inflation preliminary for Mar: Prior 2.5
pct
1000 U Mich 5-year inflation preliminary for Mar: Prior 2.5
pct
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 131
1030 ECRI weekly annualized : Prior -3.1 pct
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:
TSX market report .TO
Canadian dollar and bonds report CAD/ CA/
Reuters global stocks poll for Canada EQUITYPOLL1
EPOLL/CA
Canadian markets directory CANADA
($1= C$1.30)