April 20 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to slightly lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday as investors awaited inflation data and as criticism of rising prices by U.S. President Donald Trump weighed on oil.
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.1 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
The annual inflation rate is expected show a 2.4 percent rise in March, from 2.2 percent in February.
Annual inflation and retail sales data are both due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
"Oil prices are artificially Very High! No good and will not be accepted!" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. benchmark Brent and WTI turned negative following Trump's tweets.
Canada's main stock index fell on Thursday, pulling back from a four-week high reached the day before, as shares of consumer cyclical and materials companies led broad-based declines. ID:nL1N1RW26J
Dow 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 0.12 percent higher and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 rose 0.02 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
• Rogers Communications Inc 's RCIb.TO first-quarter profit topped analysts' forecasts as it signed up more wireless postpaid and internet customers. ID:nL3N1RW5ZJ
• JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) has tested a new blockchain platform for issuing financial instruments with the National Bank of Canada NA.TO and other large firms, they said, seeking to streamline origination, settlement, interest rate payments and other processes. ID:nL1N1RW1VX
• Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services on Thursday recommended the Crescent Point Energy Corp CPG.TO shareholders vote for activist investor Cation Capital's two nominations to the oil and gas producer's board. ID:nL1N1RX018
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,344.1; -0.35 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $68.12; -0.25 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $73.57; -0.28 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $6988.5; 0.06 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
• Rogers Communications Inc RCIb.TO : Canaccord Genuity raises target price to C$69 from C$66.
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
1030 ECRI Weekly Index: Prior 148.2
1030 ECRI weekly annualized: Prior 3.9 pct
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($1= C$1.27)