May 17 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a flat opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday even as oil prices hit $80 a barrel on concerns that Iranian exports could drop due to reimposed U.S. sanctions.
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.01 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
March data on foreign investment in Canadian securities is scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX .GSPTSE rose 10.25 points, or 0.06 percent, to 16,108.06 on Wednesday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.09 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures Esc1 fell 0.17 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were 0.39 percent lower. .N (Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canadian fertilizer company Nutrien Ltd NTR.TO said on Thursday it would sell 62.5 million Class A shares in Chilean lithium producer Sociedad Quimica Y Minera (SQM) SQMa.SN to Tianqi Lithium Corp 002466.SZ for $4.07 billion. operator Enbridge Inc ENB.TO said on Thursday it would bring its independent units and liquids and gas pipeline assets under a single listed entity as part of a move to streamline its corporate structure. on TransCanada Corp 's TRP.TO C$4.8 billion ($3.8 billion) Coastal GasLink pipeline will start in early 2019, pending a positive final investment decision on the linked LNG Canada project, the head of the pipeline project said on Wednesday. AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCcv1 : $1,287.4; -0.32 pct GOL/
U.S. crude CLc1 : $72.2; 0.99 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $79.96; 0.86 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $6875.5; 0.73 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
• Innergex Renewable Energy Inc INE.TO : Desjardins raises price target to C$15.50 from C$15.25.
• Just Energy Group Inc JE.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts rating to "hold" from "buy".
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 215,000; Prior 211,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 216,000
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 1.780 mln; Prior 1.790 mln
0830 Philly Fed Business Index: Expected 21.0; Prior 23.2
0830 Philly Fed 6M Index for May: Prior 40.70
0830 Philly Fed Capex Index for May: Prior 29.80
0830 Philly Fed Employment for May: Prior 27.10
0830 Philly Fed Prices Paid for May: Prior 56.40
0830 Philly Fed New Orders for May: Prior 18.40
1000 Leading index change mm for Apr: Expected 0.4 pct; Prior 0.3 pct
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($1= C$1.28)