April 1 (Reuters) - Futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Monday, led by rising crude and strong manufacturing data from China which boosted global investor sentiment.
China's manufacturing sector unexpectedly returned to growth for the first time in four months in March, in a sign that government stimulus measures may be slowly gaining traction, a private business survey showed. futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.44 percent at 7:00 a.m. ET.
Canada's Markit manufacturing PMI data is due at 9:30 a.m. ET
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX .GSPTSE fell 53.40 points, or 0.33 percent, to 16,102.09 on Friday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.67 percent at 7:00 a.m. ET, S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 0.63 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 0.92 percent. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
A former cabinet member at the heart of a crisis that could cost Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his job on Friday released documents to back up her case that she had been pressured to help a large corporation avoid a corruption trial. President Donald Trump on Friday signed a new permission for TransCanada Corp TRP.TO to build the long-delayed Keystone pipeline for imports of Canadian oil, replacing his previous permits in a fresh attempt to get around the blocking of the $8 billion project by a court in Montana. Genuity Group Inc CF.TO on Sunday said it will restructure its capital markets business in the United Kingdom, with uncertainty looming over the country as it prepares to exit from the European Union. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd CP.TO : JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) cuts target price to C$335 from C$337
Carmanah Technologies Corp CMH.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts rating to hold from buy
COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1291.2; -0.34 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $60.74; +1 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $68.52; +1.39 percent O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON MONDAY
0830 Retail sales ex-autos mm for Feb: Expected 0.4 pct; Prior 0.9 pct
0830 Retail sales mm for Feb: Expected 0.3 pct; Prior 0.2 pct
0830 Retail ex gas/autos for Feb: Prior 1.2 pct
0830 Retail control for Feb: Expected 0.4 pct; Prior 1.1 pct
0830 Retail sales YoY for Feb: Prior 2.28 pct
0945 Markit Manufacturing PMI Final for Mar: Prior 52.5
1000 Business inventories mm for Jan: Expected 0.3 pct; Prior 0.6 pct
1000 Construction spending mm for Feb: Expected -0.3 pct; Prior 1.3 pct
1000 ISM Manufacturing PMI for Mar: Expected 54.2; Prior 54.2
1000 ISM Manufacturing Prices Paid for Mar: Expected 52.5; Prior 49.4
1000 ISM Manufacturing Employment Index for Mar: Prior 52.3
1000 ISM Manufacturing New Orders Index for Mar: Prior 55.5
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