Oct 12 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday, tracking losses in oil markets after U.S. fuel inventories rose despite efforts by OPEC to cut production.
December futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.9 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
New home prices data for August is due at 8:30 a.m. ET ECONCA
Canada's main stock index hit a 7-1/2-month high on Wednesday, helped in part by soaring Pretium Resources Inc PVG.TO shares and modest gains in the hefty financial services group. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.06 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures Esc1 were down 0.08 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.08 percent. .N (Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he was open to bilateral trade pacts with either Canada or Mexico if a three-way deal cannot be reached to substantially revise the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ltd BB.TO said on Thursday it signed a new license agreement with BLU Products Inc, a Florida-based maker of low-end Android phones, that would end patent disputes between the two companies. Metro Inc MRU.TO said on Wednesday it would sell a major portion of its stake in Alimentation Couche Tard Inc ATDb.TO to fund its C$4.5 billion acquisition of pharmacy chain Jean Coutu Group PJCa.TO . AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,297.7; +0.63 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $50.39; -1.52 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $56.85; +1.19 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $6,843.50; +0.64 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Aphria Inc APH.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts to hold from speculative buy
Canopy Growth Corp WEED.TO : Canaccord cuts to sell from hold
Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc GS.TO : CIBC cuts to neutral from outperformer
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 251,000; Prior 260,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 268,250
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 1.935 mln; Prior 1.938 mln
0830 PPI final demand yy for Sept: Expected 2.5 pct; Prior 2.4 pct
0830 PPI final demand mm for Sept: Expected 0.4 pct; Prior 0.2 pct
0830 PPI ex food/energy yy for Sept: Expected 2.0 pct; Prior 2.0 pct
0830 PPI ex food/energy mm for Sept: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior 0.1 pct
0830 PPI ex food/energy/transport yy for Sept: Prior 1.9 pct
0830 PPI ex food/energy/transport mm for Sept: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior 0.2 pct
1400 Federal budget for Sept: Expected $6.00 bln; Prior -$108.0 bln
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($1= C$1.24)