The Toronto stock market looked set for a slightly higher open Tuesday amid higher commodity prices and positive Chinese economic data.
The S&P/TSX composite index progressed 32.06 points to finish Monday at 13,312.78
The Canadian dollar gained 0.09 cents at 94.20 cents U.S. early Tuesday
China's factory production rose 10% in November from a year earlier, slightly lower than analysts' forecasts. But retail sales rose 13.7%, which was stronger than expected.
There was also news of a shakeup at the top of clothing retailer Lululemon Athletica. Chip Wilson, the company's founder and chairman, plans to resign in the wake of comments he made where he seemingly blamed customers' weight for the company's recent sheer pants problem.
At the same time, the board of Vancouver-based Lululemon has appointed Laurent Potdevin as the new CEO to succeed Christine Day, who was chief since 2008. She announced her intention to resign in June.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange fell 14.58 points Monday to 902.07
ON WALLSTREET
Equities could spend another day in a holding pattern Tuesday with little corporate or economic news to swing sentiment either way.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials took on 16 points, or 0.1%, to 16,042. Futures for the S&P 500 stepped back 2.3 points, or 0.1%, to 1,806.70, and futures for the NASDAQ dipped 3.5 points, or 0.1%, to 3,515
After this year's strong gains, the next big catalyst for investors is likely to be the Federal Reserve meeting later this month, when it will decide whether to continue pumping money into the economy at its current rate of $85 billion U.S. a month.
Gun maker Smith & Wesson is scheduled to release quarterly results after the closing bell.
General Motors shares rose in pre-market trading. The U.S. government revealed Monday that it had sold the last of its stake in the automaker.
European markets were mixed in midday trading. Asian markets ended the day narrowly weaker.
Oil prices hiked $1.20 to $98.54 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices picked up $13.80 at $1,248 U.S. an ounce.
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