Stock futures indicated a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday as escalating tensions in Ukraine sapped appetite for risk.
The S&P/TSX composite index strengthened 20.86 points to end Thursday at 14,554.25. Futures sagged 0.2% early Friday.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.02 cents to 90.71 cents U.S. early Friday.
Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz is more hopeful than before about an export recovery but is not straying from his mantra that an interest rate cut is just as possible as a hike because the economic outlook is so uncertain. Poloz said so during a speech in Saskatoon Thursday.
Barrick Gold founder and outgoing chairman Peter Munk criticized potential takeover target Newmont Mining in an interview with the National Post, saying the U.S. miner is "not shareholder-friendly."
Canadian business software maker Open Text Corp posted a higher third-quarter profit, helped by an increase in license and customer services revenues.
RBC raised the price target on Canaccord Genuity to $12 from $7.50
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 3.47 points to 1,014.45
ON WALLSTREET
There's a sense of unease in the markets Friday as worries resurface over rising tension between Ukraine and Russia.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials dropped 65 points, or 0.4%, to 16,366. Futures for the S&P 500 slid 5.3 points, or 0.3%, at 1,867.80, and futures for the NASDAQ fell 14.75 points, or 0.4%, to 3,570.
Meanwhile, quarterly results keep rolling in. Ford shares declined after the automaker reported its first quarterly earnings decline since 2012.
Investors are awaiting earnings from Burger King and Colgate-Palmolive ahead of the market open.
Shares of Microsoft rose after the company reported first-quarter sales that exceeded analysts' expectations.
Amazon reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue. Starbucks reported a gain in sales and earnings.
Shares of Visa fell after the credit card giant missed revenue forecasts.
In economic news, the University of Michigan's April consumer sentiment index will be published at 9:55 a.m. ET.
Senior government officials told reporters that the U.S. could impose new sanctions on Russia as early as Friday for failing to take steps to reduce the tension in eastern Ukraine. Sanctions would target key allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, high-profile oligarchs and possibly companies.
Tensions in Ukraine escalated sharply Thursday, with Russia embarking on new military drills near the border after Ukrainian forces said they killed five pro-Russian militants within their borders.
European markets declined in morning trading, with Germany's DAX again taking the biggest hit.
Germany is Russia's largest trading partner in Europe. New sanctions would hurt both economies.
Asian markets mostly closed with losses Friday. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong dipped by 1.5%, the Shanghai Composite declined by 1%
Oil prices retreated 56 cents to $101.38 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices hiked $9.70 to $1,300.30 U.S. an ounce.
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