May 3 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday as gold prices rose, while investors focused on a host of earnings from companies including Bombardier.
June futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.15 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Trade data for March is due at 8:30 a.m. ET
Canada's main stock index edged higher on Wednesday, although paring some earlier gains, as resource shares climbed, while financials and Maple Leaf Foods Inc MFI.TO lost ground. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.01 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.03 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.03 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Canadian plane and train maker Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO has agreed to sell its Toronto aircraft assembly site to a pension fund as it strives to raise extra cash under a five-year recovery plan. and gas producer Crescent Point Energy Corp CPG.TO reported a first-quarter loss as it sold Canadian crude at a bigger discount. Natural Resources Ltd CNQ.TO , Canada's largest independent petroleum producer, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, helped by higher oil sands production. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
CGI Group Inc GIBa.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$83 from C$80
Suncor Energy Inc SU.TO : Barclays (LON:BARC) raises target price to C$60 from C$54
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1312.6; +0.54 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $67.85; -0.12 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $72.93; -0.59 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $6890.5; +1.03 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0730 Challenger Layoffs for Apr: Prior 60,357
0830 International trade for Mar: Expected -$50.0 bln; Prior -$57.6 bln
0830 Goods trade balance (R) for Mar: Prior -$68.04 bln
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 225,000; Prior 209,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 229,250
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 1.838 mln; Prior 1.837 mln
0830 Labor costs preliminary for Q1: Expected 2.9 pct; Prior 2.5 pct
0830 Productivity preliminary for Q1: Expected 0.9 pct; Prior 0.0 pct
0945 Markit Composite Final PMI for Apr: Prior 54.8
0945 Markit Services PMI Final for Apr: Prior 54.4
1000 Durables ex-Defense, R mm for Mar: Prior 2.8 pct
1000 Durable goods, R mm for Mar: Prior 2.6 pct
1000 Factory orders mm for Mar: Expected 1.4 pct; Prior 1.2 pct
1000 Durables excluding-transport R mm for Mar: Prior 0.0 pct
1000 Nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft R mm for Mar: Prior -0.1 pct
1000 Factory excluding transport mm for Mar: Prior 0.1 pct
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing PMI for Apr: Expected 58.1; Prior 58.8
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing Business Activity for Apr: Expected 60; Prior 60.6
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing Employment Index for Apr: Prior 56.6
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing New Orders Index for Apr: Prior 59.5
1000 ISM N-Manufacturing Price Paid Index for Apr: Prior 61.5
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