March 8 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a slightly higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday after the White House announced plans to offer Canada and Mexico a 30-day exemption from planned tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.15 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Housing starts and building permits data are due at 8:30 a.m. ET ECONCA
Canada's main stock index fell on Wednesday as a drop in commodity prices weighed on resource shares, while steel producer Stelco Holdings Inc STLC.TO rallied on prospects for Canada to be exempted from proposed U.S. metals tariffs. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.19 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.31 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.5 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
WestJet Airlines Ltd WJA.TO said Chief Executive Gregg Saretsky is retiring immediately and would be succeeded by executive vice-president Ed Sims. President Donald Trump plans to offer Canada and Mexico a 30-day exemption from planned tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which could be extended based on progress in NAFTA talks, a White House official said on Wednesday night. 5 percent of Vancouver homes stood empty or underutilized in a city grappling with skyrocketing home prices and soaring rents, according to data released on Wednesday, making their owners subject to a so-called empty home tax. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Cameco Corp CCO.TO : CIBC starts with neutral rating; C$12 price target
Franco-Nevada Corp FNV.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts price target to C$122 from C$126
Obsidian Energy Ltd OBE.TO : CIBC raises to neutral from underperformer
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,324.6; -0.11 pct GOL/
U.S. crude CLc1 : $61.01; -0.23 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $64.05; -0.45 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $6,850; -1.44 pct MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 220,000; Prior 210,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 220500
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 1.921 mln; Prior 1.931 mln
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Canadian markets directory CANADA ($1= C$1.29)