March 20 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index fell on Wednesday, as oil prices slipped on concerns over global economic growth amid ongoing U.S.-China trade dispute.
The Fed is expected to hold interest rates steady and shave the number of hikes projected for the rest of the year. futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.21 percent at 7:00 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE fell 63.27 points, or 0.39 percent, to 16,188.10 on Tuesday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.06 percent at 7:00 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 inched down 0.04 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 edged down 0.02 percent. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc 's ATDb.TO quarterly profit fell short of analysts' estimates on Tuesday as higher costs offset a rise in fuel sales. will create a national drug agency to help cut the cost of prescription medications as part of a plan to broaden the state-funded healthcare programme, the finance ministry said in its budget on Tuesday. said on Tuesday it would issue nearly 20 percent more bonds in the coming fiscal year to help the Liberal government fund its spending programmes, ahead of an October election. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc ATDb.TO : RBC cuts price target to C$85 from C$86
Ensign Energy Services Inc ESI.TO : Canaccord Genuity raises rating to buy from hold
Westshore Terminals Investment Corp WTE.TO : CIBC cuts price target to C$22 from C$27
COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1304; -0.19 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $58.41; -1.05 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $67.4; -0.31 percent O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY
1400 Fed funds target rate for 20 Mar: Expected 2.375 pct; Prior 2.375 pct
1400 Fed int on excess reserves for Mar 20: Prior 2.4 pct
1400 Ffr projection-current for Q1: Prior 2.4 pct
1400 Ffr projection-1st year for Q1: Prior 2.9 pct
1400 Ffr projection-2nd year for Q1: Prior 3.1 pct
1400 Ffr projection-3rd year for Q1: Prior 3.1 pct
1400 Ffr projection-longer for Q1: Prior 2.8 pct
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