Canada's main stock index looked set to open slightly higher as the start of the Bank of Japan's bond-buying program as part of its aggressive monetary policy boosts investor sentiment.
The S&P/TSX index dropped 31.20 points to end Friday at 12,331.85.
The Canadian dollar was fairly flat at 98.22 cents U.S. early Monday.
Bombardier Inc said its train unit signed an agreement with German engineering group Siemens AG to supply 336 million euros of train components to state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn.
Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp said on Friday it has hired advisors to consider a possible sale or other strategic options following reports that Rio Tinto may sell its controlling stake in the company's only asset.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 15.13 points to close Friday at 1,041.85
ON WALLSTREET
Investors hope to shake off a dismal jobs report Monday, while monitoring Europe's debt crisis and nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Futures for the Dow Industrials climbed 18 points, or 0.1%, to 14,502. Futures for the S&P 500 notched ahead 3.90 points, or 0.3%, to 1,549.90, and futures for the NASDAQ took on 9.50 points, or 0.3%, to 2,772.50
Monday also marks the unofficial start of first-quarter earnings season, with aluminum producer Alcoa on tap to report results after the closing bell.
In other corporate news, General Electric said it planned to buy energy company Lufkin Industries for $3.3 billion U.S. Shares of Lufkin, which builds and maintains equipment for oil and gas wells, surged in pre-market trading.
Anheuser-Busch InBev's proposed $20-billion U.S. acquisition of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo appears to be back on track after the companies, along with Constellation Brands and Crown Imports said they'd reached an agreement that would settle the Justice Department's objections to the deal.
In Europe, Portugal's top court invalidated a portion of the government’s austerity package on Friday, leaving policymakers scrambling for additional revenue to comply with the terms of the country's international bailout.
European markets were slightly higher in morning trading. London's FTSE 100 and the DAX in Frankfurt edged up about 0.3%, while the CAC 40 in Paris rose 0.7%.
Tensions remain high in Korea as the region waits uneasily for Kim Jong Un's next move.
Asian markets ended mixed. The Shanghai Composite closed down 0.6%, while the Hang Seng advanced 0.1%.
Meanwhile, the Nikkei continued to rally, adding another 2.8%, as investors cheered new stimulus measures from the Bank of Japan. The yen weakened against the U.S. dollar, falling to its lowest level since 2009.
Oil prices registered at $93.34 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices came in at $1,573.50 U.S.
