Stock futures pointed to a slightly higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday as investors digested a report on the country's manufacturing sales.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell 34.65 points to end Wednesday at 15,878.48
The Canadian dollar eased 0.04 cents at 78.29 cents U.S. Thursday morning.
December futures improved 0.1% Thursday.
BlackBerry announced the outsourcing of a significant part of its patent licensing efforts on Wednesday to a unit of the U.S.-based Marconi Group.
Hudson's Bay Co said it saw no merit in activist fund Land and Buildings' recent appeal against the Toronto Stock Exchange's conditional approval for a $500-million investment from Rhone Capital.
CIBC cut the rating on Canacol Energy to neutral from outperform
CIBC initiated coverage on Profound Medical with an outperform rating and $3.50 price target
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported that Foreign investment in Canadian securities totaled $16.8 billion in September, up from $9.8 billion in August. At the same time, Canadian investment in foreign securities slowed to $2.4 billion in September, after reaching $12.1 billion in August.
Meanwhile, manufacturing sales rose 0.5% to $53.7 billion in September, reflecting higher sales in the petroleum and coal product industry.
Forecasts were for manufacturing sales are forecast to have declined by 0.3%, in line with slower economic growth in the second half of the year after a strong first six months.
Moreover, ADP Canada released its first publication of the Canada National Employment Report this morning.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange shed 3.33 points Wednesday to 791.62
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open Thursday, bouncing back from yesterday's weak trading session, ahead of a vote on tax reform.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials increased 75 points, or 0.3%, to 23,337
S&P 500 futures acquired 8.75 points, or 0.3%, to 2,573.75, while futures on the NASDAQ Composite index shot higher 29 points, or 0.5%, to 6,295.25
Investors were looking ahead to a House vote on a tax reform bill. GOP leaders remain confident that the bill can be passed this week, despite lingering resistance seen from some Republicans.
Wall Street also focused on a big batch of earnings, with Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Viacom all reporting quarterly results. A flood of economic data is also set to be published.
First off, jobless claims, import and export prices, the Philadelphia Fed's manufacturing survey and the business leaders' survey are all due out at 8:30 a.m. ET. At 9:15 a.m., industrial production is due, followed by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, set to come out at 10 a.m. ET.
Overseas, European stocks were trading in the black, approaching noon on the continent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 rocketed 1.5% to break a six-session losing streak, and in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index gained 0.6%.
Oil prices dipped 18 cents to $55.15 U.S. per barrel.
Gold prices up 50 cents to $1,287.30 U.S. an ounce.
