Futures tracking Canada's blue-chip stocks were muted on Thursday, as markets awaited U.S. inflation data for clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy outlook, with elevated oil prices and bond yields keeping investor sentiment subdued.
The TSX dumped 216.49 points to conclude Wednesday at 35,906.56.
The Canadian dollar dipped 0.08 cents at 72.58 cents U.S.
Futures were down 0.07% Thursday morning.
Pipeline operator Enbridge said on Wednesday it will buy Tallgrass Energy's crude oil business for $2.55 billion in cash, expanding its U.S. liquids pipeline network by buying a majority stake in the Pony Express Pipeline and other assets.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, a site associated with the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, and said that he expects the war to end after the midterm elections in the U.S.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange dipped 2.66 points Wednesday to 956.98.
ON WALLSTREET
S&P 500 futures were flat Thursday as traders looked ahead to the first of two inflation reports due this week.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials took on 85 points, or 0.2%, to 52,510.
Futures for the much broader index shaved off 0.25 points to 7,643.50.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite lost 110.25 points, or 0.4%. to 29,338.50.
The action comes after the major averages tumbled for a third day. The Dow lost just over 400 points, or 0.8%, while the S&P 500 fell 0.5%. The NASDAQ Composite declined 0.6%.
Higher Treasury yields kept the U.S. stock market under pressure after the Treasury Department said it would buy back up to $6 billion in longer-term debt – triple the usual amount. Less than a month ago, the Treasury said it would more than double the size of its $2 billion government debt repurchases.
August’s producer price index, a measure of wholesale inflation, comes out Thursday morning. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect a monthly gain of 0.3%, and a 5.3% advance year over year.
The closely watched consumer price index follows on Friday, with the Dow Jones consensus calling for a 0.4% jump in August and a 12-month increase of 3.4%.
Both numbers feed into the Fed’s primary inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures price index, which won’t be released until after the Fed’s interest rate vote Sept. 16.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index forged higher 0.2% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng decreased 1.3%.
Oil prices heightened $1.31 to $97.36 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices slumped $36.30 to $4,424 U.S an ounce.
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