Stock index futures indicated a slightly higher opening for Canadian stocks on Thursday
The S&P/TSX composite index ended Wednesday down 115.39 points at 14,184.10, with futures ahead 0.07% early Thursday morning.
The Canadian dollar poked up 0.06 cents at 90.14 cents U.S. early Thursday
Negotiators reached a deal to end the month-long container truck strike in Vancouver that had slowed the transport of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of goods.
Taseko Mines asked a judge to set aside decisions by Canada's environment minister and cabinet to reject its plans to build a copper-gold mine in British Columbia.
Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage on Manitok Energy with a buy rating
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange tumbled 15.01 points Wednesday to 1,003.25
ON WALLSTREET
The banking sector could be one of the main market movers Thursday, with Citigroup shares set for a tumble after the Federal Reserve expressed dissatisfaction with its funding plans.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials nosed up six points to 16,185. Futures for the S&P 500 took on two points, or 0.1%, to 1,844.60, and futures for the NASDAQ added 2.25 points at 3,575.
The Federal Reserve rejected Citigroup's capital plan Wednesday, saying it was troubled by the bank's inability to predict how much it could lose in a severe economic downturn. It banned the bank from any dividend hikes or share repurchases for the next year.
Citi was among 30 large banks required to submit capital plans for an annual stress tests. The Fed approved 25 plans. Citi and four other banks faced rejections.
The Fed also slammed the U.S. units of European banks like Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Santander
Trading volume could also be higher than normal in Bank of America shares after it announced that first-quarter results would take a hit due to a $9.5 billion U.S. settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The deal settles all litigation between Bank of America and the agency over mortgage-backed securities.
On the earnings front, Gamestop will report earnings before the opening bell.
Accenture shares rose in premarket trading despite the decline in quarterly net income reported by the technology services company, which was recently hired to work on the Obamacare website.
Lululemon edged down after the yogawear maker reported quarterly increases in revenue and net income, but also a slide in same-store sales.
Investors will also be watching King Digital Entertainment. Shares of the maker of online game Candy Crush Saga took a beating after going public Wednesday.
Investors are waiting on the U.S. government to report initial jobless claims this morning, as well as the final estimate of fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product
European markets were lower in Thursday midday trading. The International Monetary Fund said it was throwing Ukraine an $18-billion U.S. lifeline.
Asian markets ended with mixed results. Shares in tech company Tencent in Hong Kong fell by nearly 6%, leading Asian Internet companies lower.
Oil prices gained 87 cents to $101.13 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices dipped eight dollars at $1,295.40 U.S. an ounce.
