Sept 4 (Reuters) - Futures tied to Canada's main stock
index fell on Wednesday as crude and metal prices declined,
while investors looked forward to the Bank of Canada's highly
anticipated monetary policy decision due later in the day.
September futures on the S&P/TSX index were down
0.2% at 6:02 a.m. ET (10:02 GMT).
All eyes will be on the Bank of Canada's monetary policy
meeting due at 9:45 a.m. ET, where market participants expect to
see a third consecutive interest-rate cut this year.
The Canadian central bank is expected to trim borrowing
costs by 25 basis points, bringing the policy rate down to
4.25%.
Looser credit conditions can boost consumer spending and
business investments, which eventually benefit riskier assets
such as equities.
Across the border, the U.S. Federal Reserve is also expected
to start cutting rates in its policy meeting on September 18.
Investors will also keep a close watch on the U.S. Job
Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for July at 10:00 a.m. ET,
especially after the country's recent fragile manufacturing data
weighed on the global market sentiment.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's energy sector was in the
limelight as oil prices fell, after slipping nearly 5% in the
previous session amid signs of an end to a political dispute
that halted Libyan oil exports.
The materials sector remained in focus as gold and copper
prices edged lower.
The composite index ended more than 1% lower on
Tuesday, tracking declines in materials and energy stocks.
In corporate news, Canadian investment fund Brookfield
is close to selling renewable energy firm Saeta Yields
to Masdar of the United Arab Emirates, according to a report by
Expansion.
COMMODITIES
Gold: $2,482.94; -0.4%
US crude: $69.99; -0.5%
Brent crude: $73.39; -0.5%
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($1 = 1.3552 Canadian dollars)