Canadian stock futures were higher on Friday as oil prices pulled back after dropping to their lowest in more than three months, pressured by record U.S. crude inventories.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 0.14 points to end Thursday at 15,496.84, with March futures up 0.1%
The Canadian dollar poked ahead 0.01 cents to 74.05 cents U.S. early Friday.
Canaccord Genuity initiates coverage on Arizona Mining with speculative buy rating
Barclays raised the target price on Descartes Systems Group to $35.00 from $34.00
National Bank Financial cut the target price on Dorel Industries to $33.00 from $36.00
On the economic scene, Statistics Canada reported that the economy added another 15,000 jobs in February, pushing the unemployment rate down to 6.6%.
The agency said Canada has cranked out 288,000 jobs in the past year leading up to February.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dipped 4.13 points Thursday to 788.85
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday as traders digested a crucial jobs report ahead of a probable U.S. interest rate hike next week.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials hiked 91 points, or 0.4%, to 20,847. Futures for the S&P 500 took on 10.5 points, or 0.4%, to 2,373.75. NASDAQ futures gained 21.75 points, or 0.4%, at 5,392.50.
Among companies reported earnings, Vail Resorts reported quarterly numbers before the bell.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the stateside economy added 235,000 jobs last month. The U.S. unemployment rate ticked lower to 4.7% Economists expected the economy to have added 190,000 jobs last month.
In Europe, equities were generally higher midday Friday. In Asia, the CSI 300 in China closed one point higher, while the Nikkei in Japan closed 1.5% higher.
Oil prices moved up 31 cents to $49.59 U.S. per barrel.
Gold prices fell $5.10 to $1,198.10 U.S. an ounce.
