Stock futures indicated a higher open for Canada's main stock index on Monday, picking up where the market left off before the long holiday weekend.
The S&P/TSX composite index gained 53.87 points, to end Thursday at 14,500.39, with Monday futures inching up 0.07%.
The index reached its highest in nearly six years on Thursday after positive U.S. economic data drove gains in the price of oil, which in turn lifted shares of oil producers.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.02 cents U.S. early Monday to 90.70 cents U.S.
The talks between Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining over a combination that would create a gold mining behemoth have hit a snag, but two sources close to the situation say the companies remain keen on a deal and discussions are likely to resume.
A takeover battle for Canada's Osisko Mining, involving three of the world's top gold producers, is more than just a testament to the quality of the company's low-cost mine; experts say it also spotlights a shortage of top-class gold assets in politically stable areas of the world.
CIBC raised the rating on Deethree Exploration to outperform from sector perform
CIBC cut the rating on TransCanada Corp. to sector performer from outperform
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange inched up 0.80 points Thursday to 998.77
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock futures were slightly higher ahead of another round of quarterly earnings.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials inched up seven points to 16,350. Futures for the S&P 500 added one point to 1,858.90, and futures for the NASDAQ climbed 12.25 points, or 0.4%, to 3,535.50.
Kimberly-Clark, a producer of consumer products including Kleenex, reported a loss that was smaller than the loss reported a year ago. The CEO blamed "cost inflation."
Toy company Hasbro and energy producer Halliburton reported gains in net income, after reporting losses a year earlier.
Netflix will be reporting after the market closes. The stock has been one of Wall Street's big momentum plays and the top performer in the S&P 500 last year, with an incredible 269% rise. But tech stocks have been volatile over the past several weeks, and Netflix shares are down 6% this year.
There are many other big earnings announcements set for later in the week. McDonald's, Apple and Facebook will all be reporting.
But it's a slower week for economic data releases, with none set for Monday. The latest existing home sales report will be released on Tuesday.
All the major European markets were closed Monday for the Easter holiday.
Some Asian markets were open, but they weren't moving in unison. The Shanghai Composite index fell by 1.5% -- but other major indexes were little changed
Oil prices dipped 60 cents to $103.94 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices dipped $10.10 to $1,284.50 U.S. an ounce.
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