Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday, with crude prices up more than 1% as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries meets in Vienna.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index fell back 85.8 points to finish up Thursday at 16,335.15
The Canadian dollar regained 0.21 cents to 75.32 cents U.S. early Friday
June futures rose 0.4% Friday
BlackBerry on Friday reported quarterly revenue and profit that topped analysts' estimates, driven by strong growth in its high-margin software
and services business.
Lithium Americas plans rapid development of its Thacker Pass lithium project in Nevada, the company said on Thursday, as it released a feasibility study on what it calls the largest U.S. deposit of the crucial battery ingredient.
Industrial Alliance Securities raises the rating on Emera Inc. to strong buy from buy.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada reported Friday that the consumer price index for May rose 2.2% on a year-over-year basis, matching the increase in April. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, CPI was up 0.1% in May.
Elsewhere, following three consecutive monthly increases, retail sales in April declined 1.2% to $49.5 billion. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange strengthened 4.08 points Thursday to 752.56
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures rose ahead of Friday's open, as investors tried to shake off any jitters concerning trade tensions between the U.S. and China.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials spiked 124 points, or 0.5%, to 24,599
The Dow closed lower in the previous session, marking its first eight-day losing streak in over a year. If the Dow fails to post a gain on Friday, it would mark its first nine-day slide in 40 years.
S&P 500 futures gained 14.25 points or 0.5%, to 2,766.5, while futures for the NASDAQ composite index added 29 points, or 0.4%, to 7,266.75
CarMax reports quarterly earnings today
Date due Friday includes the U.S. flash composite purchasing managers' index figures, which is due out at 9:45 a.m. ET.
While trade tensions continue to rattle investors around the globe, an important meeting concerning oil is expected to come to a close Friday. In the Austrian capital of Vienna, oil-producing nations from both OPEC and outside of the oil cartel group have gathered to decide whether it will change its current output rates.
With a decision expected soon, crude futures rose Friday as OPEC members struggled to come to an agreement on whether to increase output or not.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 lost 0.8% Friday. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index inched forward 0.2%
Oil prices gained $1.04 to $66.58 U.S. per barrel.
Gold prices moved forward $1.10 to $1,271.60 U.S. an ounce.
