CANADA STOCKS-TSX futures tick up; index set for weekly gain on Fed cut relief

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 06:43 AM EST

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's benchmark stock index edged higher on Friday after the index notched a record closing high in the previous session, in a week filled with highly anticipated central bank meetings.

Canada's TSX index ended the prior session at 31,660.73 points, boosted by metal prices and domestic data, while the S&P 500 and Dow also posted record closes.

Futures on the S&P/TSX Composite Index were up 0.2% at 1857.80 points by 06:20 a.m with the TSX poised for a weekly gain. The index is up 28% for the year and has outperformed its Wall Street peers due to a stellar performance from its mining and materials shares.

Investor sentiment this week was buoyed by a widely anticipated 25 bps cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve, while the Bank of Canada kept rates on hold, pointing to a resilient economy.

On Thursday, Canada posted a monthly international trade surplus in September, reversing a trend of seven consecutive months of deficits.

Gold prices hit a seven-week high, helped by a soft dollar, while silver extended its run at record prices. Copper was also trading near record peaks.

Oil prices gained on concerns of supply over Venezuelan disruptions.

U.S-listed shares of Canadian cannabis companies Canopy Growth (CGC) and Tilray Brands (TLRY) rose premarket after a Washington Post report said U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to push the government to dramatically loosen federal restrictions on marijuana.

FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:

TSX market report

Canadian dollar and bonds report

Reuters global stocks poll for Canada

Canadian markets directory (Reeporting by Avinash P and Twesha Dikshit in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

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