Nov 8 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index futures fell on Thursday, as investors await rate decision of Federal Reserve at its policy meeting.
The Fed is not expected to raise rates at its two-day session that ends on Thursday, a meeting that follows a renewal of volatility in stock prices, tightening credit markets, and a spreading expectation that the U.S. economy will slow next year. await to see whether the central bank offers clues about possible rate increases in December and in 2019.
December futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.1 percent at 6:58 a.m. ET.
House starts, annualized for October data is due at 8:15 a.m. ET and new housing price index for Sep data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX .GSPTSE closed up 76.72 points, or 0.50 percent, to 15,369.43, its third straight day of gains, on Wednesday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.24 percent at 6:55 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.39 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.55 percent. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO said on Thursday it would sell two of its units for $900 million and cut about 5,000 jobs, as the Canadian plane and train maker reins in costs and focuses on its core transportation and business jet units. retailer Canadian Tire Corp Ltd CTCa.TO reported a 16.5 percent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by higher sales at its retail segment and the inclusion of newly acquired Helly Hansen's operations to its earnings. Corp's T.TO third-quarter profit rose 10 percent, the Canadian telecom company said on Thursday, as it signed up more subscribers to its wireless services. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
CGI GIBa.TO : RBC raises price target to C$95 from C$92
CCL Industries Inc CCLb.TO : RBC cuts price target to C$62 from C$70
Loblaw Companies Ltd L.TO : CIBC cuts target price to C$69 from C$82
NFI Group Inc NFI.TO : CIBC cuts target price to C$61 from C$62
Spin Master Corp TOY.TO : RBC cuts target price to C$64 from C$66
COMMODITIES AT 6:57 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1225.3; fell 0.28 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $61.92; rose 0.41 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $72.26; rose 0.26 percent O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims : Expected 214,000; Prior 214,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average : Prior 213,750
0830 Continued jobless claims : Expected 1.635 mln; Prior 1.631 mln
1400 Fed int on excess reserves for Nov 08: Prior 2.20 pct
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($1 = C$1.31)