June 21 (Reuters) - Futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday as oil prices fell on signs that OPEC is nearing a deal to bump up crude production.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ends its biannual meeting in Vienna on Friday and is widely expected to agree to pump more, possibly supported by other major producers, including Russia. futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.11 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
April wholesale trade data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX .GSPTSE rose 104.42 points, or 0.64 percent, to 16,420.95 on Wednesday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.29 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.14 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.07 percent. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Brookfield Asset Management Inc BAMa.TO launched a $515 million bid for Australian retirement village owner Gateway Lifestyle Group GTY.AX , topping an earlier bid from Hometown America Corp and setting up a takeover tussle. sales will become legal in Canada beginning Oct. 17, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday, making it the first major economy to legalize its recreational use. Columbia said it is preparing legislation to crack down on "hidden ownership" in real estate and pledged Canada's first public registry of property owners, amid concerns that offshore money and criminal investors are helping fuel a housing crisis in the Pacific Coast province. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Dollarama Inc DOL.TO : Barclays (LON:BARC) adjusts price target to C$52 from C$157
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCcv1 : $1265.1; fell 0.74 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $64.78; fell 1.42 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $73.63; fell 1.49 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $6803.5; rose 0.45 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial Jobless Claims: Expected 220,000; Prior 218,000
0830 Jobless Claims 4-Wk Avg: Prior 224,250
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 1.730 mln; Prior 1.697 mln
0830 Philly Fed Business Index for June: Expected 29.0; Prior 34.4
0830 Philly Fed 6M Index for Jun: Prior 38.70
0830 Philly Fed Capex Index for June: Prior 21.60
0830 Philly Fed Employment for June: Prior 30.20
0830 Philly Fed Prices Paid for June: Prior 52.60
0830 Philly Fed New Orders for June: Prior 40.60
0900 Monthly home price mm for April: Prior 0.1 pct
0900 Monthly home price yy for April: Prior 6.7 pct
0900 Monthly home price index for April: Prior 261.7
1000 Leading index change mm for May: Expected 0.4 pct; Prior 0.4 pct
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($1= C$1.33)