Stock futures pointed to a flat opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday as investors digested manufacturing sales data for January.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index remained positive 41.5 points to finish Thursday at 15,562.41, with March futures ahead 0.04%
The Canadian dollar retreated 0.08 cents to 74.99 cents U.S. early Friday.
ValueAct Capital raised its stake in Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, in a move that could provide a confidence boost to the drug company three days after its largest shareholder sold out of the stock.
Barclays raised the rating on Empire Co to equal weight from underweight
CIBC cut the target price on Transat AT to $5.50 from $6.00
On the economic calendar, Statistics Canada reported that manufacturing sales rose for the third consecutive month, up 0.6% to $53.8 billion in January.
The agency went on to attribute the gain to a 2.3% increase in non-durable goods sales, led by the petroleum and coal, and chemical industries.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange moved higher 3.64 points Thursday to 810.92
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a fairly steady open on Friday morning as traders eyed the release of data and the meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors, which kicks off in Germany today.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gained 17 points, or 0.1%, to 20,899. Futures for the S&P 500 faded 0.25 points, or 0.01%, to 2,378.75. NASDAQ futures picked up 4.5 points, or 0.1%, at 5,419.50
Tiffany is set to report before the bell, one of the few companies out with earnings Friday.
Economically speaking, industrial production and capacity utilization are set to be released at 9:15 a.m. ET, with consumer sentiment and leading indicators due to be released at 10:00 a.m. ET.
European stocks tilted lower by noon on the continent Friday, while in Asia, the Nikkei 225 in Japan skidded 0.4%, while in Shanghai, the CSI 300 doffed 1%.
Oil prices eked up 20 cents to $48.95 U.S. per barrel.
Gold prices improved $2.40 to $1,229.50 U.S. an ounce.
