Feb 6 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index were higher on Thursday, as oil prices rose, boosted by potential OPEC supply cuts to offset demand loss from the coronavirus outbreak and by trade optimism.
A technical committee advising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+, has recommended a provisional cut in oil output of 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) as it awaits Russia's final position on the proposal, two sources told Reuters. on Thursday said it would halve additional tariffs levied against 1,717 U.S. goods last year, following the signing of a Phase 1 trade deal between the two countries. futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.25% at 7:00 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's TSX .GSPTSE closed up 0.79% at 17,651.59 on Wednesday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.47% at 7:00 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were up 0.41% and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.54%. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Barrick Gold ABX.TO is not looking to merge with copper miner Freeport-McMoran, CEO Mark Bristow said on Thursday, although he is interested in the company's Grasberg mine in Indonesia, and indicated he wants to expand in the Pacific Rim. and China are both "furious" over the case of a Huawei executive detained in Canada in 2018 and its aftermath, but there are signs the two sides can hold constructive talks, the Canadian ambassador to Beijing said on Wednesday. Energy Inc SU.TO , Canada's second-largest oil and gas producer, posted a wider quarterly loss on Wednesday, dented by a significant one-time impairment charge. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
MEG Energy Corp MEG.TO TD Securities cuts price target to C$9 from C$9.5.
ECN Capital Corp ECN.TO TD Securities raises price target to C$7 from C$6.5.
Gran Tierra Energy Inc GTE.TO Eight Capital cuts price target to C$3 from C$3.5.
COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET
Gold futures GCc2 : $1565.1; +0.32% GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $51.33; +1.14% O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $55.56; +0.51% O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0730 Challenger layoffs for Jan: Prior 32,843
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 215,000; Prior 216,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior 214,500
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected 1.720 mln; Prior 1.703 mln
0830 Labor costs preliminary for Q4: Expected 1.4%; Prior 2.5%
0830 Productivity preliminary for Q4: Expected 1.6%; Prior -0.2%
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