Canadian stock futures were unchanged on Thursday as optimism about a large U.S. stimulus and upbeat Chinese export data was offset by weakness in oil and bullion prices.
The TSX fell 51.06 points to end Wednesday at 17,934.74.
The Canadian dollar gained 0.07 cents to 78.83 cents U.S.
March futures crept up 0.1% Thursday.
France's Labour Minister joined the political opposition to a takeover of French retailer Carrefour by Alimentation Couche-Tard.
RBC raised the target price Aritzia to $32.00 from $29.00.
CIBC raises the rating on Finning International to outperform from neutral
JP Morgan cuts the rating on First Quantum Minerals to underweight from neutral.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange beat breakeven by 1.63 points Wednesday to 900.24
ON WALLSTREET
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures gained on Thursday as traders weighed a potential big economic stimulus package and more good vaccine news versus pressure from rising rates and political turmoil. Futures on the broader market were flat.
Futures for the 30-stock index gathered 92 points, or 0.3%, to 31,051
Futures for the S&P 500 advanced 5.25 points, or 0.1%, at 3,809.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite shed 1.25 points to 12,971.
President-elect Joe Biden is expected on Thursday evening to unveil a stimulus plan that will include a boost to the recent $600 direct payments, an extension of increased unemployment insurance and support for state and local governments. Some media outlets say the stimulus could be as big as $2 trillion.
Trial data published on Wednesday showed that Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose coronavirus vaccine is safe and generates a promising immune response.
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ gained 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively. The Dow, meanwhile, closed flat. The market held up even as as House members voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time — making him the first U.S. president ever to be impeached twice — as a bipartisan majority charged him with inciting a riot in the U.S. Capitol last week.
Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 climbed 0.9%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index also jumped 0.9%.
Oil prices dipped 30 cents to $52.61 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slipped $12.60 at $1,842.30 U.S.
