Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main stock index on Thursday, boosted by rising oil prices.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index managed to hang onto 33.61 points in gains to end Wednesday at 16,318.14
The Canadian dollar squeezed higher by 0.09 cents to 74.49 cents U.S. early Thursday
June futures gained 0.3% Thursday.
The head of Europe's Airbus said it was too early to talk about acquiring a Belfast factory placed on sale by Bombardier.
CIBC raised the target price on Boyd Group Income Fund to $187.00 from $161.00
RBC raised the target price on Yellow Pages Ltd. to $10.00 from $9.00
Canaccord Genuity cut the target price on Invesque to $7.50 from $8.00
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada said foreign investors reduced their holdings of Canadian securities by $1.5 billion in March, the first divestment in three months. Meanwhile, Canadian investment in foreign securities totaled $1.5 billion, led by purchases of U.S. corporate bonds
Also, in March, manufacturing sales increased 2.1% to $58.0 billion, following a 0.2% decrease in February and a 0.9% gain in January. The agency said the largest gains were posted in the transportation equipment, petroleum and coal product, and primary metal industries.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange added 6.75 points Wednesday to 607.54
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures pointed to positive start to the trading day on Thursday as investors weigh strong earnings against lingering trade-war fears.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 68 points, or 0.3%, to 25,742
Futures for the S&P 500 picked up 6.5 points, or 0.2%, at 2,861.50
NASDAQ futures advanced 7.25 points, or 0.1%, to 7,536.50
Shares of Cisco Systems climbed 3.5% in the pre-market on the back of quarterly numbers that topped analyst expectations. The company also issued on Wednesday better-than-expected revenue guidance for the current quarter.
Walmart also reported quarterly earnings that topped expectations, sending its stock up 1.4% before the bell.
On the data front, investors will be watching housing starts, weekly jobless figures, and a Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook.
Gains, however, were capped as Wall Street continued to fret over the ongoing trade spat between China and the U.S. Investors had largely priced in the two countries striking a deal this month. Instead, the U.S. hiked tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. China retaliated with higher tariffs on $60 billion worth of goods.
On top of that, President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday a national emergency over threats against American technology. This move is expected to be followed by a ban on U.S. firms doing business with Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company.
Overseas, the Nikkei 225 doffed 0.6% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index gained just more than six points.
Oil prices moved up 83 cents to $62.85 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices faded $2.90 to $1,294.90 U.S. an ounce.
