Futures on Canada's main stock index were higher on Friday on strengthening oil prices and hopes of business-friendly tax cuts in the United States.
The S&P/TSX Composite gained 63.26 points to close Thursday at 15,617.30, with March futures ahead 0.2%.
The Canadian dollar eked up 0.01 cents to 76.14 cents U.S. early Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that in coming weeks he would announce something "phenomenal" in terms of tax although he offered no further details.
Agrium Inc. has forecast a less profitable year than expected and said its quarterly profit plunged.
Cameco Corp reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit, hurt by weak uranium prices.
CIBC raised the price target on Manulife Financial to $27.00 from $23.00
CIBC raised the price target on Precision Drilling to $11.00 from $10.50
Barclays raised the target price on Telus Corp. to $50.00 from $48.00
On the economic front, Statistics Canada reported that the economy added 48,000 jobs in January, resulting in a drop in the unemployment rate of one-10th of a percentage point to 6.8%
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 0.47 points Thursday to 825.88
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday as traders eyed the release of data and earnings.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gained 34 points, or 0.2%, to 20,170. Futures for the S&P 500 added 2.75 points, or 0.1%, to 2,307. NASDAQ futures jumped 6.75 points, or 0.1%, at 5,219.
In terms of earnings, Aon, ArcelorMittal and CBRE Group are among companies that reported before the bell.
The three major U.S. indexes closed at record highs Thursday after President Donald Trump hinted at a tax-related announcement in the next few weeks.
On the data front, import prices and consumer sentiment are set to come out this morning.
European stocks were marginally lower by noon on the continent, while Asian stocks were almost uniformly higher. The Nikkei 225 in Japan soared 2.5%.
Oil prices added 82 cents to $53.82 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices slid $7.90 to $1,228.90 U.S. an ounce.
