Stock futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Monday
The S&P/TSX composite index remained negative 57.38 points to close off the week at 14,812.42. June futures were down 0.05%.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.29 cents to 79.05 cents U.S. early Monday.
Health insurer UnitedHealth Group unit OptumRx Corp agreed to buy pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran Corp in a deal worth about $12.8 billion U.S.
Barrick Gold Corp, which last year implemented a new executive compensation plan after an outcry from shareholders, paid Executive Chairman John Thornton $12.9 million U.S. in 2014, a third more than in 2013.
Canaccord Genuity cut the price target on Calfrac Well Services to $11 from $12, with a hold rating.
Canaccord Genuity also cut the target price on Entrec Corp to $0.60 from $0.70 with a hold rating
Raymond James cut the price target to $2.30 from $2.50, with a market perform rating.
In the economic docket, Statistics Canada was due out this morning with its industrial product price and raw materials price indexes for February.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 1.87 points Friday to 681.43
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock futures are moving up, European markets are jumping by about 1%, and nearly all Asian markets closed the day with gains.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials leaped 109 points, or 0.6%, to 17,581. Futures for the S&P 500 gained 10 points, or 0.5%, to 2,062.50, and futures for the NASDAQ picked up 26.5 points, or 0.6%, to 4,352.25
The U.S. government will release February data on personal income and spending numbers this morning.
Oil is in the spotlight this week with major producing nations hitting the headlines. Crude futures were trading about 1.5% lower Monday.
Iran is negotiating with world powers about its nuclear capabilities. If a general framework for a deal is reached by Tuesday, then the U.S., Iran and others will have until the end of June to hammer out more specifics.
That could lead to a lifting of sanctions and allow Iran to pump more oil to world markets.
Saudi Arabia continues to be in focus on expectations that it will launch a ground incursion in Yemen. Last week, Saudi Arabia and a number of other nations launched air strikes over Yemen.
Oil prices dipped 64 cents to $48.23 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices hesitated $16.70 to $1,184 U.S. an ounce.
