Canada's main stock index was set to open lower on Friday following weakness in global markets as investors turned cautious after weak German trade data and a dip in oil prices.
The S&P/TSX Composite was positive 6.51 points to close Thursday at 14,803.26, with September futures reversing 0.2% Friday.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.03 cents at 77.27 cents U.S. early Friday.
Barclays raised the target price on Descartes Systems to $31 from $30.00 with an overweight rating.
CIBC cut the target price on North West Co. to $30.00 from $32.00
Canaccord Genuity raised the price target on Yamana Gold to $10.50 from $10.00 with a buy rating.
German exports fell sharply in July, shrinking the overall trade surplus for the fourth consecutive month - something not seen since 1992 - and casting doubt on the strength of the euro-zone's largest economy.
On the domestic economic front, Statistics Canada reported that the economy created 26,000 jobs during August. The unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 7.0%, as more people participated in the labour market.
Moreover, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation revealed that housing starts declined to 195,640 units in August compared to 201,379 in July.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 3.71 points Thursday to 825.60
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock futures were slipping early Friday, alongside European markets and most Asian indexes.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials dropped 108 points, or 0.6%, to 18,273, while futures for the S&P 500 shed 12.25 points, or 0.6%, at 2,158.75. NASDAQ futures ceded 28.5 points, or 0.6%, at 4,764.
Meanwhile, Apple is facing a backlash on social media from customers who are facing a long wait for the jet black version of the new iPhone 7 because of a huge order backlog. It goes on sale next week.
Shares in Apple are edging down a bit pre-market, but experts are warning not to get too stressed about it.
Kroger and Mattress Firm are the main companies that will issue quarterly results ahead of the open.
The European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, is in for some heat from experts, after he opted on Thursday to hold steady on the bank's current money printing program.
Some analysts had been expecting he would extend the program past March 2017 to give a further boost to Europe's sluggish economy. Instead, the ECB didn't even discuss an extension.
Shares in Samsung dropped by nearly 4% in South Korean trading on Friday as further bad news came out about its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones.
Air travelers are being warned not to use the Samsung phones on planes after the company recalled the devices over complaints the batteries can catch fire.
Oil prices chucked $1.05 to $46.57 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices were down $1.10 to $1,340.50 U.S. an ounce.
