Futures linked to Canada’s main stock index were slightly up on Thursday, helped by higher oil and gold prices, even as investors weighed signals that a Middle East peace deal could be struck soon.
The TSX Composite Index finished Wednesday 53.63 points to the good at 34,155.59, its highest since March 2.
June futures eked up 0.1% Thursday.
The Canadian dollar was unchanged at 72.58 cents U.S.
A key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that progress has been made towards a peace deal that would open the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, investors are tracking corporate earnings in the U.S. and Canada to gauge how companies are tackling headwinds from the Iran war.
On the economic beat, Statistics Canada reported there were 124,004 new motor vehicles sold in Canada in February, decreasing 0.9% from February 2025.
The Canadian Real Estate Association was also set to deliver the number of MLS home sales for March.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange gained 3.3 points Wednesday to 1,043.31.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stock futures were marginally higher early Thursday after both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite rose to fresh records during the regular session.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials gathered 42 points, or 0.1%, to 48,711.
Futures for the S&P 500 eked up 6.25 points, or 0.1%, to 7,066.75.
Futures for the NASDAQ collected 43 points, or 0.2%, to 26,408.50.
Travelers Companies delivered an earnings and revenue beat in its first quarter report, but it wasn’t enough to support the stock.
The insurance company reported earnings of $7.71 per share and $11.92 billion in revenue. That was better than the consensus estimates of $7.07 in earnings per share and revenue of $10.72 billion, according to analysts.
Travelers also announced that it was increasing its quarterly dividend to $1.25 from $1.10.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 ballooned 2.4% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng acquired 1.7%
Oil prices gained 33 cents to $91.62 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices shone brighter $15.50 to $4,839.10 U.S an ounce.
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