Stock futures pointed to a lower start for Canada's main stock index on Wednesday as oil prices declined after rising in the past few days.
The S&P/TSX composite index gained 162.41 points, or 1.1%, to conclude Tuesday at 15,062.88. Futures Wednesday dipped 0.1%.
The Canadian dollar slid 0.32 cents to 80.23 cents U.S. early Wednesday.
Intact Financial Corp, Canada's largest property and casualty insurer, reported a near-doubling in quarterly profit, boosted by strong growth in underwriting income.
Canadian financial services holding company Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday it had agreed to acquire the Ukrainian insurance operations of Australia's QBE Insurance Group, expanding its presence in Eastern Europe.
National Bank Financial cut the rating on Agnico Eagle Mines to sector perform from outperform
National also resumes coverage on WPT Industrial Real Estate Investment with an outperform rating
Barclays raised the price target on Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP to $62.00 from $50.00
Ivey PMI data for January is due at 10.00 a.m. ET.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange added 7.07 points Tuesday to 692.32
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock futures are edging lower after markets closed with impressive gains on Tuesday.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials dipped 18 points, or 0.1%, to 17,554. Futures for the S&P 500 faded 4.25 points, or 0.2%, to 2,037.75, and futures for the NASDAQ fell 11.5 points, or 0.3%, to 4,204.75.
Shares in Disney are rising by 4% pre-market after the House of Mouse reported quarterly results that easily beat Wall Street expectations.
Shares in Chipotle are slipping in extended trading after a whopping 26% jump in quarterly sales failed to satisfy investors.
Pharmaceutical stocks are also on the move. Shares in Gilead Sciences are dipping by 4%. The company is reported to be offering larger-than-expected discounts on its pricey Hepatitis C drug.
Pfizer's stock is up by 2% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for the firm's high profile breast cancer drug, Ibrance.
Shares in J. M. Smucker Company, known for its jams and food products, are up by about 5% pre-market after the company said it was buying Big Heart Pet Brands for $3.2 billion U.S.
Sony came out with a preliminary forecast, predicting net income of 89 billion yen ($755 million U.S.) for the third quarter. It said it doesn't expect its annual earnings to take a hit from a major cyberattack that crippled computer systems at its Hollywood studio.
Last month, Sony asked regulators for an extension to file third quarter earnings due to the hack. Final results will be announced March 31.
Also in Japan, Toyota forecast a slight decline in future vehicle sales but expects profits will improve, partially due to favorable foreign exchange moves.
In the U.S., General Motors and Merck will report earnings before the opening bell.
Keurig Green Mountain, 21st Century Fox and Yum! Brands will report after the close.
European markets are mostly declining in early trading, while Asian markets mostly closed the day with gains
Oil prices eased 1.8% to $52.09 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices took on 0.6% to $1,267.90 U.S. an ounce.
