Canadian stock futures edged higher on Friday, the last trading day of the year, helped by gains in metals prices.
The S&P/TSX Composite jumped 61.02 points to conclude Thursday at 15,422.12, with March futures up 0.03%.
The Canadian dollar leaped 0.49 cents to 74.27 U.S. early Friday
The index closed 2015 at 13,009.95, meaning it has climbed more than 2,400 points during the year, or 16.2%, as of Thursday’s close.
Canadian equity markets are to be closed Monday for New Year’s Day
In company news, a unit of Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd received preliminary regulatory approval to buy a 51% stake in Catholic Syrian Bank, the chairman of the Indian lender said on Friday.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange added 14.28 points Thursday, or 1.9%, to 760.22
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday, with data and oil set to be on the agenda as traders look ahead to the start of 2017.
Ahead of the opening bell, futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gained 40 points, or 0.2%, at 19,799. Futures for the S&P 500 picked up 5.5 points, or 0.2%, to 2,250.50. NASDAQ futures acquired 10.75 points, or 0.2%, at 4,929.25.
On the last trading day of the year, Friday will see the release of the latest Chicago Purchasing Managers Index data, due out at 9.45 a.m. ET. No bond auctions are set to take place by the U.S. Treasury.
Amid another light year-end trading season, European stocks kicked off its final trading day of 2016 by trading lower on Friday morning.
Meanwhile Asia-Pacific indexes closed mixed to slightly higher overnight. Stateside, U.S. indexes ended their previous session lower.
Oil prices fell four cents to $53.73 U.S. a barrel
Gold prices gained 90 cents to $1,159 U.S. an ounce.
