TSX futures inch up ahead of Powell’s speech, US data

(Reuters) – Futures tied to Canada’s main stock index rose on Thursday, helped by crude prices, ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech and U.S. economic data later in the day.

December futures on the S&P/TSX index were up 0.2% at 6:03 a.m. ET (11:03 GMT).

Powell’s speech will take center stage as the top policymaker could offer possible remarks on the pace of future U.S. policy reduction.

Markets widely expect a 25-basis-point U.S. interest rate cut next month, bets for which rose after an in-line reading from U.S. inflation data on Wednesday.

Despite the confidence around the rate cut in December, markets also expect President-elect Donald Trump’s policies to spur inflation and keep Fed rates higher for longer.

Meanwhile, investors awaited the U.S. Producer Price Index data for October, expected at 8:30 a.m. ET, as well as weekly jobless claims numbers.

Wall Street futures were steady on Thursday. [.N]

Canada’s energy sector was in focus as oil prices steadied after declining earlier this week due to a stronger U.S. dollar. [O/R]

The materials sector could come under pressure as a strong dollar weighed on gold prices that fell over 1% and copper prices, which slid below $9,000 for the first time in more than two months. [GOL/] [MET/L]

The composite index ended at a record high on Wednesday, boosted by energy and technology shares.

In corporate news, distributor of architectural building products Adentra surpassed third-quarter sales estimates and increased its quarterly dividend to C$0.15 per share from C$0.14.

COMMODITIES

Gold: $2,546.58; -1.06% [GOL/]

US crude: $68.69; +0.38% [O/R]

Brent crude: $72.57; +0.39% [O/R]

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($1 = 1.4011 Canadian dollars)