Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday
The TSX 300 climbed 95.93 points to end Wednesday at 14,856.20, with December futures up 0.3% on Thursday.
The Canadian dollar inched up 0.08 cents to 88.42 cents U.S. early Thursday
Life insurer Manulife Financial Corp reported a 6.4% rise in third-quarter profit, driven by strong sales in Asian markets such as Japan, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
Legislation to approve the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline began racing through the U.S. Congress on Wednesday as Democrats and Republicans appeared to be coming together in a challenge of President Barack Obama's oversight of the project.
U.S. telecommunications provider ShoreTel Inc rejected Canadian peer Mitel Networks Corp's higher bid, saying it "significantly undervalued" the company.
On the economic front, Statistics Canada reported this morning that its New Housing Price Index rose 0.1% in September, following a 0.3% increase in August. Provincially, increases in Ontario and Alberta offset declines in Quebec and Manitoba.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange faded 0.92 to 771.37
ON WALLSTREET
Stock markets are flirting with record highs again, and more merger talk could help them get there.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials sparked 16 points, or 0.1%, to 17,593, while S&P 500 futures were ahead 1.75, or 0.1% to 2,037.75, and NASDAQ futures were up 6.25 points, or 0.1%, to 4,202.25
Shares in DreamWorks Animation jumped 27% pre-market on a report that toymaker Hasbro is in talks to buy the company. DreamWorks is behind mega movie hits including "Shrek" and "Madagascar".
It's a big day for retailers. Walmart, Kohl's and Dillard's will report earnings before the opening bell. Nordstrom will report after the bell.
The U.S. government will report weekly jobless claims this morning.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped by 1.1% Thursday, closing at its highest level in seven years. The index has surged by nearly 14% over the past three months as the yen plunged in response to massive money printing by the Japanese central bank.
Meanwhile, other Asian markets ended with mixed results.
In Europe, the major stock markets were all rising in early trading.
Oil prices dropped $1.09 to $76.09 U.S.
Gold prices regained $1.90 to $1,161 U.S.
