Futures tracking Canada's resources-heavy stock index were flat on Thursday, pressured by a decline in precious metal prices, while investors turned cautious ahead of a key jobs report later in the week.
The TSX crumbled 271.53 points to close Wednesday at 32,135.49.
The Canadian dollar backed off 0.02 cents to 72.14 cents U.S.
March futures crept up 0.03% Thursday.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported Canada's monthly international trade in services surplus widened from $0.4 billion in September to $0.5 billion in October. Overall, imports of services declined 1.2% to $19.6 billion, and exports were down 0.4% to $20.1 billion.
In other news, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit China next week as Canada tries to forge new trade partnerships in the face of crippling tariffs in its main market, the U.S.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 2.24 points Wednesday to 1,036.18.
ON WALLSTREET
Stock futures fell Thursday, putting the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average on track to pull back further from record levels.
Futures for the 30-stock index dropped 184 points, or 0.4%, to 49,055.
Futures for much-broader index sank 10.25 points, or 0.2%, at 6,953.50.
Futures for the NASDAQ lost 48.75 points, or 0.2%, to 25,790.
The S&P 500 and Dow ended Wednesday’s session in the red after touching fresh all-time highs. Those declines came as crude prices slid after President Donald Trump said that interim authorities in Venezuela will be turning over as much as 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., prompting concerns over increasing oil supply.
Crude prices rebounded Thursday, with U.S. oil rising more than 1%.
Defense stocks rallied Thursday after Trump called for a $1.5-trillion defense budget in 2027. Northrop Grumman gained 6.8% in premarket trade, Lockheed Martin was last seen 6.7% higher, RTX advanced 5.4%, and Kratos Defense was up 6.6%.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 retreated 1.6%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng dropped 1.2%.
Oil prices poked 84 cents to $56.83 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices dulled $32.00 at $4,440.90 U.S. per ounce.
