Dec 16 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday, helped by gains in gold prices, while investors awaited inflation data due later in the day.
Spot gold .XAU= gained 0.15%, hitting a one-week high, on hopes for further U.S. stimulus and expectations that the Federal Reserve would keep a check on interest rates.
December futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.66% at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Canada's inflation (CPI) data for November is due at 8:30 a.m. ET (1230 GMT).
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index .GSPTSE ended 0.62% higher at 17,494.63 on Tuesday.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.31% at 7:00 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.29% and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.26%.
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canadian pot producer Aphria APHA.TO , APHA.O and rival Tilray Inc TLRY.O have agreed to combine their operations, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Empire Company EMPa.TO : ATB Capital Markets initiates with "outperform" rating and price target of C$44
Hudbay Minerals Inc HBM.TO : CIBC starts with "outperform" rating; price target C$10.75
Yangarra Resources Ltd YGR.TO : CIBC raises to "neutral" from "underperform"
COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET
Gold futures GCc2 : $1865.4; +0.66% GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $47.65; +0.08% O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $50.77; +0.02% O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY
Data for United States' retail sales and Purchasing Managers Index is due at 8:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. ET
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