Baystreet.ca - Futures tied to Canada's main stock index rose slightly on Friday as investors remained on the sidelines ahead of key U.S. payrolls data, while focus also remained on the deepening Middle East conflict.
The TSX Composite Index remained negative 33.05 points to wrap up Thursday at 23,968.50.
December futures were up 0.1% Friday.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.03 cents to 73.78 cents U.S.
On the economic front, the IVEY PMI survey for September will be handed down later this morning (about 10 a.m. EDT).
In corporate news, Canadian news and information conglomerate Thomson Reuters (TSX:TRI) said it was selling its FindLaw business to Internet Brands.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange slid 0.25 points Thursday to 589.92.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock futures rose slightly early Friday as traders looked ahead to the widely anticipated release of September’s jobs report.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials moved upward 66 points, or 0.2%, to 42,383.
Futures for the S&P 500 captured 17 points, or 0.3%, at 5,766.50.
Futures for the NASDAQ leaped 84.25 points, or 0.4%, to 20,074.50.
All three major averages are on pace to snap a three-week win streak. The S&P 500 is off 0.7% week to date, as is the Dow. The NASDAQ is on track for a loss of 1.1% in the period.
To be sure, one overhang has been removed after a closely watched port strike ended Thursday night, as the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance reached a tentative agreement on wages. The parties also agreed to extend their existing contract into January to allow more time for further negotiations.
Economists polled by Dow Jones expect that nonfarm payrolls will show growth of 150,000, up from 142,000 in August. The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 4.2%.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.2%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng popped 2.8%.
Oil prices hiked $1.05 to $74.76 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices ditched 40 cents to $2,678.80
Futures Rise Slightly as Jobs Report Looms