Sept 15 (Reuters) - Canada's stock index futures pointed to a near flat opening on Friday as investors shrugged off the latest missile test by North Korea.
Pyongyang fired a missile that flew over Japan's northern Hokkaido far out into the Pacific Ocean on Friday, ratcheting up tensions after the country's recent test of its most powerful nuclear bomb. futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.02 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada's benchmark stock index posted its highest close in nearly two weeks on Thursday as stronger oil prices drove gains for energy companies, while food retailer Empire Company Ltd EMPa.TO got a boost from stronger-than-expected results. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.02 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.11 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNC_US.pdf ; The Day Ahead newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/The_Day_Ahead/TDA_NAM.pdf)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Greece granted Canada's Eldorado Gold ELD.TO another permit for its Olympias mining project in an attempt to defuse tension with the Vancouver-based company, which had threatened to halt investment in the country. the Bank of Canada's inflation targeting regime has worked well, the central bank is open to alternatives and wants to communicate in a way that avoid unproductive volatility, Bank of Canada senior deputy governor Carolyn Wilkins said on Thursday. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Altius Minerals Corp ALS.TO : TD Securities raises price target to C$17 from C$16.50
Empire Company Ltd KEMPa.TO : TD Securities raises price target to C$25 from C$20
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCcv1 : $1328.4; -0.07 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $50.02; +0.26 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $55.64; +0.31 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $6507.5; +0.15 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
0830 NY Fed Manufacturing for Sep: Expected 19.00; Prior 25.2
0830 Retail sales ex-autos mm for Aug: Expected 0.5 pct; Prior 0.5 pct
0830 Retail sales mm for Aug: Expected 0.1 pct; Prior 0.6 pct
0830 Retail ex gas/autos for Aug: Prior 0.5 pct
0830 Retail control for Aug: Expected 0.3 pct; Prior 0.6 pct
0915 Industrial output mm for Aug: Expected 0.1 pct; Prior 0.2 pct
0915 Capacity utilization mm for Aug: Expected 76.8 pct; Prior 76.7 pct
0915 Manufacturing output mm for Aug: Expected 0.3 pct; Prior -0.1 pct
1000 Business inventories mm for July: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior 0.5 pct
1000 Retail inventory ex auto for July: Prior -0.2 pct
1000 U Mich Sentiment Preliminary for Sep: Expected 95.1; Prior 96.8
1000 U Mich Conditions Preliminary for Sep: Prior 110.9
1000 U Mich Expectations Preliminary for Sep: Prior 87.7
1000 U Mich 1 year inflation preliminary for Sep: Prior 2.6 pct
1000 U Mich 5 year inflation preliminary for Sep: Prior 2.5 pct
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 141.8
1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 0.9 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$1.22)