Nov 19 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a higher opening for Canada's main index on Thursday a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve's minutes flagged a rate hike next month, but also signaled that the central bank would take things slow and steady after that.
December futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were up 0.51 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
September wholesale data is due at 8:30 a.m.
Canada's main stock index rose to its highest close in more than a week on Wednesday led by railways, after Canadian Pacific disclosed a takeover bid.
Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were up 0.23 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures Esc1 were up 0.36 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.38 percent.
TOP STORIES
Canadian planemaker Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO said Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, which manages Quebec's public pension plans, would buy a 30 percent stake in its rail unit for $1.5 billion.
A small Canadian diamond company has found what it says is the world's second-biggest gem quality diamond ever recovered, and the largest in more than a century, at its mine in Botswana.
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd CP.TO said its proposed $28.4 billion acquisition of U.S. railroad operator Norfolk Southern Corp (N:NSC) NSC.N would help the combined company to save at least $1.8 billion annually.
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,072.90; +0.39 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $40.70; -0.10 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $44.41; +0.63 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,599.50; -0.23 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Loblaw Companies Ltd L.TO : Barclays (L:BARC) raises target price to C$76 from C$75
Orezone Gold Corp ORE.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts to "hold" from "speculative buy"
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International VRX.TO : Citigroup (N:C) starts with "overweight" rating
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected +271,000; Prior +276,000
0830 Jobless claims 4-week average: Prior +267,750
0830 Continued jobless claims: Expected +2.170 mln; Prior +2.174 mln
0830 Philly Fed Business Index for Nov: Expected -1.0; Prior -4.5
0830 Philly Fed 6M Index for Nov: Prior +36.70
0830 Philly Fed Capex Index for Nov: Prior +7.20
0830 Philly Fed employment for Nov: Prior -1.70
0830 Philly Fed prices paid for Nov: Prior -0.10
0830 Philly Fed new orders for Nov: Prior -10.60
1000 Leading Index Change mm for Oct: Expected +0.5 pct; Prior -0.2 pct
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($1= C$1.33)