Stock futures pointed to a higher start for Canada's main stock index on Friday as investors digested the release of inflation data.
The S&P/TSX composite index was positive 132.87 points to conclude Thursday at 14,346.75. Futures on Friday poked up 0.2%.
The Canadian dollar faded 0.25 cents to 86.12 U.S. early Friday.
BlackBerry said it had completed its acquisition of Secusmart, a privately held firm specializing in voice and data encryption.
Barrick Gold said on Thursday that it would suspend operations at its Lumwana copper mine in Zambia following the passage of legislation that raises the royalty rate on open-pit mining operations in the country to 20% from 6%.
BMO cut the target price on Canadian Pacific Railway to $250.00 from $260.00.
On the economic sheet, inflation figures proved a mixed bag last month, Statistics Canada reporting that consumer prices rose 2.0% in the 12 months to November, following a 2.4% increase in October. On a monthly basis, CPI declined 0.2% in November, after rising 0.1% in October.
Retail sales were relatively unchanged in October, holding at $42.8 billion. Lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations offset higher sales in most other sub-sectors. Gains were reported in six of 11 sub-sectors, representing 42% of retail trade.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 6.50 points Thursday to 665.50
ON WALLSTREET
Stocks are poised for more gains Friday after a huge recovery this week that could put the main U.S. indexes on course for a positive month.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials hiked 52 points, or 0.3%, to 17,778. Futures for the S&P 500 acquired six points, or 0.3%, to 2,066, and futures for the NASDAQ gained 18.25 points, or 0.4%, to 4,281.25
Despite going on a tear over the last two days, the three indexes are still in negative territory for December after the oil price crash and Russia's ruble crisis shocked markets.
BlackBerry and Carnival shares could be on the move Friday as both are set to report earnings before the opening bell.
Shares in Xerox were rising by about 3% pre-market after the firm said it was selling its IT outsourcing business for just over $1 billion U.S.
Shares in Nike were dipping lower pre-market after the company forecast weaker-than-expected demand over the next few months.
Alibaba shares may be on the move as some inside investors are now allowed to start paring back on their holdings. After the massive Alibaba market debut in September, many early investors were barred from selling their shares. But that restriction lifts today
Most European markets are rising in early trading, while all the Asian markets closed with healthy gains.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan and the key index in Australia rallied by 2.4%, taking their cue from the U.S.
The Bank of Japan announced it was keeping monetary policy steady following October's surprise decision to ramp up its stimulus program.
Oil prices gained 74 cents to $57.64 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices went north $2.60 to $1,197.40 U.S. an ounce.
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