Stock futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday.
The S&P/TSX composite index jumped 133.99 points to close Wednesday at 14,754.06, with futures down 0.09% Thursday
The Canadian dollar was fairly flat at 87.95 cents U.S. early Thursday.
On the economic front, Western University is to come out with its monthly IVEY Purchasing Managers’ Index for November. It’s a measure of spending by purchasing managers at businesses across the country.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 1.36 points Wednesday to 721.63
ON WALLSTREET
Markets will be watching for an early holiday gift from the European Central Bank.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gathered 14 points, or 0.1%, to 17,911. Futures for the S&P 500 inched up 1.5 points, or 0.1%, to 2,074, and futures for the NASDAQ took on six points, or 0.1%, to 4,316.50.
Dollar General and Sears will report quarterly earnings before the opening bell. American Eagle and gun maker Smith & Wesson will report after the close.
Shares in GM were trading about 2% firmer premarket. News about GM has improved recently after months of damaging recall headlines.
Car sales are strong and the mid-sized Chevrolet Colorado won Motor Trend's 2015 Truck of the Year award, beating Ford's new F-150.
The U.S. government reported weekly jobless claims this morning.
There's a slim chance the ECB will use its last meeting of the year to announce more help for the stagnant euro-zone economy. More likely is a strong hint, perhaps even a promise, from President Mario Draghi of more action to come early in 2015.
The central bank will cut its forecasts for euro-zone growth and inflation at Thursday's meeting.
Most major European markets were narrowly firmer in early trading. The euro was becalmed versus the dollar, having lost 10% so far this year to trade at a two-year low.
Oil prices slid 0.42 cents to $66.96 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices dipped $2.70 to $1,206 U.S. an ounce.
