Bond.az - Futures linked to Canada's main stock index edged lower on Thursday, as investors gauged a fresh exchange of strikes between the U.S. and Iran which dented hopes for an imminent peace deal.
By 08:08 ET (12:08 GMT), the S&P/TSX 60 index standard futures contract had dipped by 5 points, or 0.2%.
Results from major Canadian banks this week were also in focus. Royal Bank of Canada posted an increase in second-quarter profit thanks to market volatility.
TD Bank posted elevated interest income which led to a jump in adjusted income for the second quarter.
U.S. stock futures pointed lower. Analysts at Vital Knowledge suggested that hopes remain for an end to the war in Iran.
A decline in Brent crude futures combined with decent earnings reports, particularly from Abercrombie & Fitch and Bath & Body Works, helped catalyze gains in consumer discretionary stocks.
Energy-linked names, however, were under some pressure.
The U.S. military struck targets near the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas earlier in the day, drawing retaliatory measures from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The IRGC said it had struck a U.S. military base in Kuwait. Kuwaiti authorities said they were defending against drone and missile attacks.
Oil prices climbed, maintaining concerns over energy-induced inflation.
A gauge of inflation closely watched by the Federal Reserve rose as expected in April on an annualized basis.
Gold prices fell.
All three of the major U.S. indices closed at a record high on Wednesday.
HP shares inched down in premarket trading. Marvell Technology also dropped.
