Futures for Canada’s main stock index inched lower on Wednesday, ahead of slew of economic data due later in the day that could offer cues on the central bank’s rate hike plans, although stronger crude prices limited losses.
The S&P/TSX Composite leaped 150.04 points to close Tuesday at 21,502.55.
The Canadian dollar climbed 0.29 cents to 78.88 cents U.S.
March futures were down 0.2% higher Wednesday.
Barrick Gold on Wednesday reported a 6% rise in fourth-quarter profit and announced a share repurchase of up to $1 billion.
National Bank of Canada raised the target price on Cargojet to $203.00 from $201.00
Jefferies raised the target price on First Quantum Minerals to $50.00 from $45.00
RBC raised the target price on Neighbourly Pharmacy to $39.00 from $36.00
On the economic slate, Statistics Canada reported that manufacturing sales rose 0.7% in December, mostly attributable to higher sales of plastic and rubber products, as well as motor vehicles.
Wholesale trade rose 0.6% in December to $76.2 billion. Manufacturing sales rose 0.7% in December, mostly attributable to higher sales of plastic and rubber products, as well as motor vehicles.
Gains in the automobile and automobile parts, machinery, equipment and supplies were largely offset by lower sales in a food, beverages and tobacco.
The agency also said its consumer price index rose 5.1% on a year-over-year basis in January 2022, up from a 4.8% gain in December 2021. On a seasonally-adjusted monthly basis, the CPI rose 0.6% in January 2022.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange regained 10.26 points, or 1.2%, Tuesday to 871.67.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock index futures were little changed morning trading Wednesday as traders digested stronger-than-expected retail data and geopolitical updates.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials fell 76 points, or 0.2%, to 34,828.
Futures for the S&P 500 skidded 7.25 points, or 0.2%, to 4,457.25
Futures for the NASDAQ dropped 38.25 points, or 0.3%, to 14,571.35.
ViacomCBS was the biggest loser in early action Wednesday, with shares falling more than 10% premarket after the company said it is rebranding itself as Paramount Global to focus on streaming. At the same time, the company reported lower-than-expected quarterly earnings.
Shares of Wynn Resorts dipped 1.6% after the casino operator beat on revenue, but posted a larger-than-expected loss per share.
Retail sales surged 3.8% in January, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday. Economists expected the report to show sales rose 2.1% in January after a 1.9% decline in December.
Markets have been driven largely by concerns over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the Federal Reserve’s plan to hike interest rates.
In the most recent geopolitical developments, NATO officials accused Russia of massing troops at the Ukrainian border.
Indices in North America resumed their climb Tuesday after the Russian government said that some troops who had been on the Ukrainian border had returned to their bases.
Overseas, in Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 2.2%, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng rocketed 1.5%
Oil prices improved $1.14 to $93.21 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices declined $1.40 to $1,854.80 U.S. an ounce.