Futures were flat on Canada’s main stock index, a day after the index closed at its highest in three weeks and ahead of a report on inflation.
The S&P/TSX Composite moved higher 92.87 points to close Thursday’s session at 14,826.09
The Canadian dollar gained 0.08 cents to 73.97 cents U.S. early Friday.
Greece has approved a permit application by Eldorado Gold to build a plant at its Skouries gold mine in northern Greece. It plans to start production there in 2019.
Husky Energy told the Saskatchewan government its oil spill into a major Canadian river last summer that cut off drinking water supply for two cities was caused by ground movement that buckled a section of pipeline, not material defects, such as corrosion.
Sherritt International’s joint nickel venture in Cuba will return to profit next year if prices for the metal sustain themselves at the current level, the Canadian mining company's head said in an interview.
National Bank Financial cut the target price on BRP Inc. to $28.00 from $31.00, citing the concerns about the impact on the company from potential new U.S. trade restrictions with Mexico.
CIBC raised the target price on Solium Capital to $9.25 from $7.50, saying the Morgan Stanley contract solidifies the company's position in the U.S. market and strengthens its competitive positioning globally.
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada reported that the consumer price index rose 1.5% on a year-over-year basis in October, following a 1.3% gain in September. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, the CPI increased 0.2% in October, matching the gain in September.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange stayed buoyant 0.59 points Thursday to 745.09
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Friday as traders measured the words of a host of Fed speakers.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials lopped off four points to 18,865. Futures for the S&P 500 docked 0.25 points to 2,184. NASDAQ futures inched up 1.25 points to 4,829.75.
On the earnings front, Foot Locker posted mixed results, beating earnings estimates and missing on revenues as comparable store sales rose 4.7%. Abercrombie & Fitch is also set to report before the bell.
On Thursday, Fed Chair Janet Yellen gave testimony before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. Yellen, like many other Fed speakers, reaffirmed that a rate hike is coming soon.
On the data front, Friday will see leading indicators released at 10 a.m. ET.
Markets were marginally lower in Europe. In Asia, the Shanghai Composite in China closed 0.5% lower, while the Nikkei in Japan closed 0.6% higher, to highs it hasn’t seen since January.
Oil prices eked higher three cents to $45.45 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices slid $4.50 at $1,212.40 U.S. an ounce.
