Futures linked to Canada's main stock index were largely steady on Friday, as investors took a breather following strong mining-led gains in the previous session, while oil prices climbed on renewed fears of potential U.S. military action against Iran.
The TSX index zoomed 151.17 points to conclude Thursday at 33,002.70.
March futures inched ahead 0.05% Friday.
The Canadian dollar climbed 0.15 cents to 72.38 cents U.S.
In corporate news, Aris Mining named Neil Woodyer as chief executive officer after markets closed on Thursday, while Capstone Copper's Australia-listed shares dropped 3.4% on Friday after a workers' strike forced a production halt in its mine in Mantoverde, Chile.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported retail sales hiked 1.3% to $70.4 billion in November. The nation’s number crunchers added sales were up in eight of nine subsectors, led by increases at food and beverage retailers.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange leaped 39.57 points, or 3.6%, Thursday to 1,094.62.
ON WALLSTREET
Stock futures fell slightly after the major averages posted back-to-back gains on easing geopolitical fears.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials dropped 109 points, or 0.2%, to 49,479.
Futures for the S&P 500 ditched eight
points, or 0.1%, at 6,937.
Futures for the NASDAQ retreated 42.25 points, or 0.2%, to 25,616.
Gains on Wednesday and Thursday erased the Dow’s losses from earlier in the week. The 30-stock Dow is up less than 0.1% on the week.
However, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are on track for their second negative week in a row, down 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.
Shares of Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices rose more than 1% and about 3%, respectively, in early trading.
The moves come as people familiar with the matter told reporters that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is planning to visit China in the coming days.
Intel shares, in contrast, tumbled 13% after the chipmaker reported a disappointing first-quarter outlook.
The major averages rallied for a second session as investors were appeased by news of easing trade tensions and geopolitical risk. The Dow advanced more than 300 points, or 0.6%. The S&P 500 added roughly 0.6%, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ rose 0.9%.
Stocks began their rebound on Wednesday after President Donald Trump called off his threatened tariffs on the imports of eight European nations, set to start Feb.1. The president’s move came after Trump announced that he and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reached a “framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland.”
Internationally, markets in Japan added 0.3% Friday, while the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 0.5%.
Oil prices acquired $1.14 to $60.50 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices brightened $20.90 at $4,934.20 U.S. per ounce.
