Canadian stock futures were little changed on Wednesday as investors digested February's housing market data.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed negative 20.97 points Tuesday at 15,608.78, with March futures down 0.07% Wednesday
The Canadian dollar stumbled 0.24 cents to 74.32 cents U.S. early Wednesday.
David Baazov, facing insider trading charges stemming from his time as CEO of Amaya Inc., said on Tuesday that he pocketed $133 million from the sale of close to 30% of the shares he held in the online gambling company.
CIBC raises target price on Agellan Commercial REIT to $11.75 from $11
Canaccord Genuity raises the rating on Bellatrix Exploration to speculative buy from hold
CIBC raises target price on Brookfield Renewable Partners LP to $45 from $44
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada said building permits issued by Canadian municipalities rose 5.4% to $7.6 billion in January, following two consecutive monthly decreases.
The agency added that six provinces posted increases, led by Alberta and British Columbia.
Moreover, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported housing starts were on pace in February to hit 204,669 units in Canada, whereas January saw them hitting 200,255 units.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange fell 7.78 points Tuesday, or nearly 1%, to 802.47
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Wednesday as traders focused on fresh economic data ahead of a probable interest rate hike next week.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials poked up five points to 20,918. Futures for the S&P 500 dropped 1.5 points, or 0.1%, to 2,365. NASDAQ futures dropped 4.75 points, or 0.1%, at 5,345.
Bob Evans and Express and were among the companies that reported earnings before the bell. Camping World, Sunrun, United Natural Foods and Bankrate are all due to report after the market close.
Economically speaking, private-sector employment rose by 298,000 jobs last month, well above estimates of 190,000. The report encompassed the first full month under President Donald Trump, who has pledged to rebuild the nation's aging infrastructure system.
Interest-rate prognosticators had market expectations for a rate hike held at around 90% on Wednesday. The Federal Reserve's monetary policy committee is set to meet Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.
Other data released Wednesday included fourth-quarter non-farm productivity, which was left unrevised at 1.3%. Wholesale trade data are due at 10 a.m. ET.
European stocks poked higher by midday Wednesday, while the Nikkei 225 in Japan dropped 0.5% by the close, the CSI 300 in Shanghai off 0.2%.
Oil prices doffed 59 cents to $52.55 U.S. per barrel.
Gold prices docked $5.80 to $1,210.30 U.S. an ounce.
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