Stock futures pointed to a lower start for Canada's main stock index on Thursday ahead of an extended weekend.
The S&P/TSX composite index gained 40.11 points to close Wednesday at 14,942.55. June futures were down 0.3% Thursday.
The Canadian dollar faded 0.08 cents to 79.15 cents U.S. early Thursday.
Canadian auto sales rose in March from a year earlier, industry data showed on Wednesday, even as several major manufacturers, including General Motors and Toyota, reported declines.
Canada's largest oil and gas company Suncor Energy Inc said on Wednesday that it expected to largely implement operating budget cuts of $600 million-$800 million in 2015, ahead of the previously projected two-year period.
Kinross Gold Corp said on Wednesday that mining and crushing operations at its Maricunga mine in northern Chile remained suspended following severe floods in the region last week.
CIBC raised the target on Com Dev International to $4.75 from $4.40
CIBC raised the price target on Keyera to $95.50 from $94.00
On the economic front, Statistics Canada reported that imports declined 0.7% in February while exports were up 0.4%. Consequently, our merchandise trade deficit with the world narrowed from $1.5 billion in January to $984 million in February.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange poked up 1.25 points Wednesday to 681.32
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock futures are dipping, hinting Wall Street could see a third consecutive day of declines before the Easter long weekend.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials lost 22 points, or 0.2%, to 17,593. Futures for the S&P 500 dipped four points, or 0.2%, to 2,049, and futures for the NASDAQ fell eight points, or 0.2%, to 4,305.
McDonald's stock may be in play after announcing late Wednesday that it would raise hourly wages for 90,000 employees who work at company-owned stories.
Kraft and Mondelez International will be in the spotlight Thursday after the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced it had filed a civil complaint against the food giants for manipulating wheat prices.
Avocado producer Calavo Growers and retailer Perry Ellis are both reporting ahead of the open.
Also before the opening bell, the U.S Labor Department will release its report on weekly jobless claims.
Traders will be trying to position themselves for the release of the monthly U.S. jobs report Friday, when most major stock markets will be closed. Currency markets will definitely be moving.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to report the economy created 244,000 jobs in March, according to a survey of economists.
European markets are relatively stable in early trading.
Most Asian markets ended the day with healthy gains.
Oil prices dropped $1.16 to $48.93 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices fell $3.50 to $1,204.60 U.S. an ounce.
