Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Friday, tracking gains in world stocks, as strong corporate earnings helped to support investor sentiment.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index gained back 72.45 points to close Thursday at 15,280.78
The Canadian dollar tacked on 0.16 cents at 75.06 cents U.S. early Friday
March futures were up 0.2% Friday.
Credit Suisse raised the rating on Acadian Timber to outperform from neutral.
Credit Suisse started coverage on Largo Resources with an underperform rating.
National Bank of Canada initiated coverage on Richelieu Hardware with outperform rating.
Canaccord Genuity initiated coverage on Troilus Gold with speculative buy rating.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange eked up 0.68 points Thursday to 593.38
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures rose ahead of Friday’s open, as investors grew more optimistic about an end to the government shutdown and geared up for another batch of corporate earnings.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average leaped 176 points, or 0.7%, to 24,634
Futures for the S&P 500 took on 19 points, or 0.7%, to 2,653
NASDAQ futures picked up 67 points, or 1%, to 6,742
Stocks rose despite poor quarterly earnings and growth from Intel, while Starbucks shares climbed on stronger-than-expected sales results. Hope for an end to the U.S. government shutdown also rose overnight.
A bipartisan group of Senators announced they will propose an amendment to get about one-quarter of the government workforce back to work, at least in the interim.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also projected confidence about the status trade negotiations between the U.S. and China in comments to the media. Mnuchin said both sides were "making a lot of progress" in the talks.
A number of fresh company earnings will be keeping investors busy. Some of the major brands set to report include AbbVie, Colgate-Palmolive, and D.R. Horton — all of which are due to come out before the bell.
Investors are also continuing to monitor concerns surrounding a trade deal with China.
Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 grew 1% Friday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index skyrocketed 1.7%
Oil prices acquired 12 cents to $53.25 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices gained $3.50 to $1,283.30 U.S. an ounce.
