Futures tracking Canada's main stock index edged higher on Thursday as investors weighed the prospects of a U.S.-Iran peace deal alongside a largely positive slate of corporate earnings.
The TSX flew 344.83 points, or 1%, to close Wednesday at 36,146.42.
September futures gained 0.2% early Thursday.
The Canadian dollar nicked ahead 0.07 cents to 71.44 cents U.S.
Canadian Natural Resources beat second-quarter profit estimates on Thursday, benefiting from higher oil and natural gas production, while AtkinsRéalis and Quebecor also posted a rise in quarterly revenue.
Restaurant Brands International beat overall same-store sales growth expectations for the second quarter, helped by resilient demand at its Burger King chain in the U.S.
Lundin Mining and McEwen also reported a rise in second-quarter revenue late on Wednesday.
At least six brokerages hiked price targets for Shopify after the e-commerce firm forecast quarterly revenue above estimates.
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange galloped 24.94 points, or 2.8%, Wednesday to 923.83
ON WALLSTREET
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose early Thursday as traders kept an eye on the Middle East, with a deal to reopen the key Strait of Hormuz in the works. Wall Street also weighed a slew of corporate earnings releases.
Futures for the 30-stock index fell 617.18 points, or 0.9%, to 54,621.
Futures for the much-broader index forged ahead 9.75 points, or 0.1%, to 7,759.25.
Futures for the NASDAQ Composite backpedaled 167.5 points, or 0.5%, to 29,447.50.
Sandisk shares dropped more than 10% to weigh on Nasdaq futures. The memory name posted fiscal fourth-quarter results that failed to impress investors. AppLovin also tumbled 18% on mixed quarterly results.
Oil prices rose slightly in early trading as Iran and Oman drew closer to reaching a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping through the Strait would not be subject to fees or tolls under a temporary agreement, an Iranian government official told MS NOW.
Meanwhile, the first lockup of SpaceX shares is set to expire, with over 900 million shares poised to be released into the market. The staggered approach gives early investors their first opportunity to sell, which could weigh on the share price.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 backed off 0.9% Thursday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng slid 1.5%.
Oil prices captured 72 cents to $75.94 U.S. a barrel.
Gold prices gained $15.50 to $4,320.70 U.S an ounce.
