March 3 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher
opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday as concerns
eased about the global outlook for economic growth.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.30
percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's main stock index rose for a fifth straight session
on Wednesday, hitting its highest point this year as gains for
materials and energy stocks offset losses for financial and
consumer names and railways.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were
unchanged at 7:15 a.m. ET. S&P 500 e-mini futures Esc1 were
down 0.01 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up
0.02 percent.
TOP STORIES
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd CNQ.TO CNQ.N cuts its
2016 capital expenditure on Thursday after it reported an 89
percent fall in quarterly profit, amid a steep decline in crude
prices.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc (NYSE:VRX) VRX.N VRX.TO
said it appointed Ari Kellen executive vice president,
succeeding Deb Jorn who has resigned, effective immediately.
AT 7:15 a.m. ET gold futures GCc1 : $1,244.00; +0.23 pct
US crude CLc1 : $34.71; +0.14 pct
Brent crude LCOc1 : $36.85; -0.22 pct
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,828.00; +0.79 pct
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Bank of Montreal BMO.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$79
from C$78
George Weston Ltd WN.TO : Barclays (LON:BARC) cuts target to C$123
from C$124; rating "overweight"
K-Bro Linen Inc KBL.TO : National Bank Financial cuts
rating to "sector perform" from "outperform"
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 271,000; Prior 272,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 272,000
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 2.250 mln; Prior
2.253 mln
0830 Labor costs revised for Q4: Expected 4.7 pct; Prior 4.5
pct
0830 Nonfarm productivity revised for Q4: Expected -3.2 pct;
Prior -3.0 pct
0945 Markit Services PMI Final for Feb: Prior 49.8
0945 Markit Composite PMI Final for Feb: Prior 50.1
1000 Durables goods excluding defense revised mm for Jan:
Prior 4.5 pct
1000 Durable goods total revised mm for Jan: Prior 4.9 pct
1000 Factory orders mm for Jan: Expected 2.0 pct; Prior -2.9
pct
1000 Durable goods orders excluding transportation revised
mm for Jan: Prior 1.8 pct
1000 Non-defense capital orders excluding aircraft revised
mm for Jan: Prior 3.9 pct
1000 Factory orders excluding transportation mm for Jan:
Prior -0.8 pct
1000 ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI for Feb: Expected 53.2; Prior
53.5
1000 ISM Non-Manufacturing Business Activity for Feb:
Expected 54.0; Prior 53.9
1000 ISM Non-Manufacturing Employment Index for Feb: Prior
52.1
1000 ISM Non-Manufacturing New Orders Index for Feb: Prior
56.5
1000 ISM Non-Manufacturing Prices Paid Index for Feb: Prior
46.4
($1= C$1.34)