June 18 (Reuters) - Futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Tuesday, as gold prices edged up on hopes of a rate cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve, which begins its two-day interest rate meeting later in the day.
June futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.44% at 7:00 a.m. ET.
April manufacturing sales data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX index .GSPTSE rose 51.54 points, or 0.32%, to 16,353.45 on Monday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.41% at 7:00 a.m. ET, S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.48% and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.85%. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
China will block pork imports from Frigo Royal after a batch of the Canadian firm's pork was found to contain the banned feed additive ractopamine, the customs agency said in a statement on its Wechat account. C$1.25 billion Canadian program to help young people buy their first homes in a hot housing market will start up on Sept. 2, most likely just before an election is called, officials indicated on Monday. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Athabasca Oil Corp ATH.TO : RBC initiates coverage with C$1.15 price target
Canfor Corp CFP.TO : CIBC raises rating to outperformer from neutral
Medipharm Labs Corp LABS.V : Canaccord Genuity cuts target price to C$7.50 from C$8
COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,348; +0.6% GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $51.74; -0.37% O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $60.56; -0.62% O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON TUESDAY
0830 Building permits: number for May: Expected 1.296 mln; Prior 1.290 mln
0830 Build permits: change mm for May: Prior 0.2%
0830 Housing starts number for May: Expected 1.239 mln; Prior 1.235 mln
0830 House starts mm: change for May: Prior 5.7%
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TSX market report .TO
Canadian dollar and bonds report CAD/ CA/
Reuters global stocks poll for Canada EQUITYPOLL1 EPOLL/CA
Canadian markets directory CANADA ($1= C$1.34)