Futures tracking Canada's blue-chip stocks edged higher on Thursday, supported by a rise in gold prices, while lingering geopolitical tensions kept investors cautious.
The TSX Composite Index decreased 260.37 points to conclude Wednesday at 34,151.32, a three-week low.
June futures vaulted 0.9% Thursday.
The Canadian dollar bowed 0.14 cents to 71.56cents U.S.
The U.S. and Iran traded air attacks for a second straight day on Thursday, ?with President Donald Trump vowing further strikes if Tehran does not immediately agree to a peace deal.
Apotex Health made its Toronto market debut on Wednesday, raising about ?$1.3 billion in gross proceeds — the largest IPO for the TSX in five years.
On the economic calendar, Statistics Canada reported the total value of building permits issued in Canada decreased $1.0 billion (-7.6%) to $12.5 billion in April.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange fell 20.89, or 2.2%, Wednesday to 912.17.
ON WALLSTREET
Stock futures gained on Thursday as chip stocks rebounded from recent pressure and oil prices eased despite new U.S. strikes against Iran overnight.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials restocked 334 points, or 0.7%, to 50,324.
Futures for the S&P 500 index captured 43.25 points, or 0.6%, to 7,321.75.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite compiled 288 points, or 1%, to 29,842.
Micron, AMD and Intel rebounded in premarket trading following a 10% drubbing on Friday that’s called many investors to question whether the parabolic move in the sector was over. Intel was upgraded by Bank of America from underperform to buy on Thursday and the shares responded with a 4% premarket gain.
The chip rebound came as enthusiasm builds ahead of SpaceX’s debut on Friday, which could highlight the expected growth in the AI buildout ahead.
Although some traders believe the recent chip weakness is due to investors selling the stocks in their portfolios to make room for the IPO, which will be the largest debut ever at a $1.8-trillion valuation.
The tech gains came even as shares of Oracle dropped more than 9% as the software giant announced plans to raise an additional $20 billion in equity and debt to pay for its artificial intelligence buildout.
West Texas Intermediate crude futures came off their overnight highs and shed 1% to trade around $89 a barrel. U.S. Central Command forces launched more “self-defense strikes” against Iran late Wednesday, according to Centcom’s post on social media platform X. The attacks came at the direction of President Donald Trump, according to the post.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng slid 0.7%.
Oil prices shaved off 98 cents to $89.05 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices lost $27.40 to $4,105.90 U.S an ounce.
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