Stock futures pointed to a higher open for Canada's main stock index on Friday, tracking gains in world stocks as political uncertainties in Italy and Spain ended.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained 12.84 points to close Thursday at 16,061.50
The Canadian dollar fell back 0.13 cents to 77.14 U.S. early Friday
June futures vaulted 0.5% Thursday
In Italy, anti-establishment parties revived coalition plans on Thursday, while in Spain Socialist Pedro Sanchez took over as prime minister on Friday, after outgoing leader Mariano Rajoy lost a confidence vote.
Canada decided to impose retaliatory tariffs on $16.6 billion worth of U.S. exports and challenge U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Thursday.
Bank of Nova Scotia said on Thursday it would buy MD Financial Management, a financial services company for Canadian doctors, in a $2.59-billion all-cash deal.
IA Securities raised the rating Dollarama Inc. to buy from hold.
Markit's seasonally adjusted manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index data for May is due at 9:30 a.m. ET.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture gave back 4.58 points Thursday to 763.10
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures rose ahead of Friday's open, pointing to a rebound from losses seen in the previous session, as Wall Street awaited the latest jobs report.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials 137 points, or 0.6%, to 24,554
S&P 500 futures gained 13.25 points, or 0.5%, to 2,718.75, while futures for the NASDAQ composite index improved 28.75 points, or 0.4%, to 7,005.75
On the earnings front, Abercrombie & Fitch is due to report new figures before the opening bell.
The May non-farm payrolls report was scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. ET. Investors will dissect the report looking for clues about the Federal Reserve's next monetary policy moves.
Elsewhere on the geopolitical front, North Korean officials will deliver a letter from Kim Jong Un to Trump on Friday in Washington, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the latest sign that a canceled summit between the two leaders could be back on.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 dipped 0.1%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index squeezed up 0.1% Friday.
Oil prices lost 57 cents to $66.47 U.S. per barrel.
Gold prices settled $5.50 to $1,299.20 U.S. an ounce.
