Futures for Canada's main stock index ticked higher on Friday on strength in commodity prices and increased optimism on a deal over the U.S. debt ceiling that could avert a catastrophic default.
The TSX gained 66 points to close Thursday at 20,297.09.
June futures on the S&P/TSX index grabbed 0.4% Friday morning.
The Canadian dollar captured 0.08 cents to 74.16 cents U.S.
Canadian markets will be shuttered Monday for Victoria Day.
Among company news, Edenbrook Capital, which owns 10.4% of Absolute Software Corp, said the deal to take the software firm private by Crosspoint Capital Partners significantly undervalued the firm.
The Competition Bureau said it was suing Cineplex for advertising movie tickets at a lower price than what many consumers actually have to pay.
The union representing WestJet's pilots reached a tentative agreement with the Onex-owned airline, averting a strike set to begin as early as Friday.
In the economic docket, Statistics Canada says retail sales decreased 1.4% to $65.3 billion in March.
The agency says sales decreased in five of the nine subsectors, led by 4.4% decreases at motor vehicle and parts dealers and 3.9% drops at gasoline stations and fuel vendors.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dipped 2.72 points Thursday to 609.03.
ON WALLSTREET
Stock futures rose slightly Friday as Wall Street continued monitoring the situation surrounding the debt ceiling.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials grew 92 points, or 0.3%, at 33,711.
Futures for the S&P 500 nicked ahead 11.25 points, or 0.3% to 4,223.25.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite took on 10.5 points, or 0.1%, to 13,904.50.
The major averages are headed for weekly gains. The S&P 500 is up 1.8% week to date through Thursday’s close. That would be its biggest one-week advance since March. The NASDAQ, meanwhile, has risen 3.3% for the week. That would also be its best weekly performance since March. The Dow is up 0.7%.
A chunk of those gains came Thursday, as traders mounted bets that a U.S. debt ceiling deal could be reached. Comments from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Thursday seemed to suggest a potential deal could come as soon as next week.
The tail-end of earnings season continues Friday with results from Deere and Foot Locker before the bell.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.8%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng stumbled 1.4%.
Oil prices acquired $1.17 to $73.11 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices bumped up $6.70 to $1,966.50 U.S. an ounce.
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