Baystreet.ca - Futures linked to Canada's main stock index were subdued on Thursday ahead of key U.S. inflation data that can help investors gauge the Federal Reserve's interest-rate path.
The TSX Composite Index leaped 307.73 points, or 1.4%, to conclude Wednesday at 22,350.23.
The Canadian dollar was off 0.04 cents to 73.39 cents U.S.
September futures were down 0.03% Thursday.
In Canada, the 29-month rise in domestic unemployment numbers has amplified calls for another rate cut by the Bank of Canada in its next policy meeting on July 24.
In corporate news, International Battery Metals became the first company to produce lithium with a novel type of filtration technology commercially.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 7.69 points, or 1.3%, Wednesday to 583.26.
ON WALLSTREET
Stock futures were marginally lower Thursday as traders awaited a major U.S. inflation report.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials dropped 80 points, or 0.2%, to 39,971.
Futures for the S&P 500 index lost 10.25 points, or 0.2%, at 5,677.75.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite flopped 30.25 points, or 0.1% to 20,869.50.
In corporate news, Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) gained 3% after announcing its first membership rate increase since 2017. WD-40 Company added 12% on the back of its fiscal third quarter report, posting total net sales that rose 9% from the year-ago period.
Economists surveyed by Dow Jones are looking for the June reading for the consumer price index to be up 0.1% month over month and 3.1% year over year. This would build on the positive news from the May report, which showed inflation unchanged on a monthly basis and up 3.3% year over year.
The June core CPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, is expected to rise 0.2% for the month and 3.4% from a year earlier.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.9% to yet another fresh high Thursday, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong vaulted 2.1%.
Oil prices let go of one cent to $82.09 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices surged $6.50 to $2,386.20