Sept 6 (Reuters) - Futures on Canada's main stock index were flat as investors await the outcome of talks between the United States and Canada to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday the two countries made progress in negotiations and officials would work together to flesh out areas for further discussion. has warned of retaliation if Washington implements any new tariff measures. Recent reports have said U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to move ahead with tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports. futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.03 percent at 7:00 a.m. ET.
July's building permits data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX .GSPTSE fell 23.73 points, or 0.15 percent, to 16,137.57 on Wednesday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.02 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.04 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.1 percent. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Creditors of Hudson's Bay Co HBC.TO have agreed to a merger of the Canadian retailer's German department store chain Kaufhof with rival Karstadt, owned by Austria's Signa Holding, German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported. Inc's WMT.N Canadian unit said it would buy 30 more of Tesla Inc's TSLA.O all-electric 18-wheeler semi-trucks as part of a plan to have 100 percent of its fleet use alternative power by 2028. Couche-Tard Inc ATDb.TO reported a quarterly profit that topped analysts' estimates on Wednesday as the world's second-biggest convenience store operator benefited from higher fuel sales. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Ecobalt Solutions ECS.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts price target to C$0.90 from C$1.80
Semafo Inc SMF.TO : CIBC cuts target price to C$4 from C$4.25
WSP Global Inc WSP.TO : National Bank of Canada raises to outperform from sector perform
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,205.8; +0.81 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $68.83; +0.16 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $77.52; +0.32 pct O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0730 Challenger layoffs for Aug: Prior 27,122
0815 ADP national employment for Aug: Expected 190,000; Prior 219,000
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 214000; Prior 213,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 212,250
0830 Continued jobless claims for Aug: Expected 1.710 mln; Prior 1.708 mln
0830 Labor costs revised for Q2: Expected -0.9 pct; Prior -0.9 pct
0830 Productivity revised for Q2: Expected 3.0 pct; Prior 2.9 pct
0945 Markit Composite Final PMI for Aug: Prior 55.0
0945 Markit Services PMI Final for Aug: Prior 55.2
1000 Durables ex-defense, R MM for Jul: Prior -1.0 pct
1000 Durable goods, R MM for Jul: Prior -1.7 pct
1000 Factory orders MM for Jul: Expected -0.6 pct; Prior 0.7 pct
1000 Durables ex-transport R MM for Jul: Prior 0.2 pct
1000 Nondefense cap ex-air R MM for Jul: Prior 1.4 pct
1000 Factory ex-transport MM for Jul: Prior 0.4 pct
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing PMI for Aug: Expected 56.8; Prior 55.7
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing Business Act for Aug: Expected 56.9; Prior 56.5
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing Employment Index for Aug: Prior 56.1
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing New Orders Index for Aug: Prior 57.0
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing Price Paid Index for Aug: Prior 63.4
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($1= C$1.32)