Jan 21 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index were slightly changed on Thursday as hopes of a large fiscal stimulus package under new U.S. President Joe Biden outweighed weakness in oil prices.
Biden took office on Wednesday and signed half a dozen executive orders. Last week, he outlined a $1.9 trillion relief package plan to jump-start the pandemic-stricken economy.
Brent crude LCOc1 futures and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 futures shed 0.7% each after industry data showed a surprise build in U.S. crude inventories that reignited pandemic-led demand concerns. futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.06% at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Data for Canada's new housing price index for December is due at 8:30 a.m. ET
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended 0.38% higher at 18,026.36 on Wednesday.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.18% at 7:00 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.22% and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.41%.
TOP STORY TOP/CAN
Canadian pension funds are seeking to boost their real estate investments, betting the slumping property market will recover as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes and office workers and city dwellers return to downtown properties. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Airboss of America Corp BOS.TO : Cormark Securities cuts target price to C$24
Metro Inc MRU.TO : National Bank of Canada cuts target price to C$64 from C$65
TCP Energy Corp TRP.TO : Scotiabank cuts target price to C$69 from C$72
COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET
Gold futures GCc2 : $1871.6; +0.27% GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $52.93; -0.75% O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $55.63; -0.8% O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Building permits: number for Dec: Expected 1.604 mln; Prior 1.635 mln
0830 Build permits: change mm for Dec: Prior 5.9%
0830 Housing starts number for Dec: Expected 1.560 mln; Prior 1.547 mln
0830 House starts mm: change for Dec: Prior 1.2%
0830 Initial jobless claim : Expected 910,000; Prior 965,000
0830 Jobless claim 4week average : Prior 834,250
0830 Cont jobless claim : Expected 5.400 mln; Prior 5.271 mln
0830 Philly Fed Business Index for Jan: Expected 12.0; Prior 9.1
0830 Philly Fed 6M Index for Jan: Prior 43.10
0830 Philly Fed Capex Index for Jan: Prior 23.80
0830 Philly Fed Employment for Jan: Prior 5.60
0830 Philly Fed Prices Paid for Jan: Prior 24.90
0830 Philly Fed New Orders for Jan: Prior 1.90
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