Baystreet.ca – Futures Slightly Higher Friday

Futures linked to Canada’s main stock index edged higher on Friday, as investors awaited key economic data from both Canada and the United States.

The TSX Composite Index finished downward 112.08 points to conclude Thursday at 25,514.08.

Futures were relatively stable first thing Friday.

The Canadian dollar dipped 0.1 cents to 70.44 cents U.S. early Friday.

For the week, the health-care sector was on course to be the standout performer, with an impressive 4.3% gain, whereas the technology sector faced challenges, losing 2.9% and set to emerge as the week’s weakest performer.

On the economic platform, retail sales increased 2.5% to $69.6 billion in December. Sales were up in all nine subsectors and were led by increases at food and beverage retailers and motor vehicle and parts dealers.

ON BAYSTREET

The TSX Venture Exchange recovered 5.3 points Thursday to 644.10.

ON WALLSTREET

S&P 500 futures were little changed early Friday after the major averages slid following a lackluster earnings forecast from retail giant Walmart.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials plunged 239 points, or 0.5%, to 44,029, as shares of UnitedHealth tumbled on a Wall Street Journal report that the insurer is under investigation by the Justice Department.

Futures for the much-broader index advanced four points or 0.1%, to 6,140.50.

Futures for the tech-heavy NASDAQ hiked 88.25 points, or 0.4%, to 22,230.

On a week-to-date basis, the S&P 500 is on pace for a slim gain of less than 0.1%, while the NASDAQ Composite is off 0.3%. The Dow is the underperformer, tracking for a 0.8% loss over the period.

Investors pointed to a smattering of reasons behind the market’s selloff in addition to Walmart’s 6.5% dip, including lingering inflationary concerns and declines in shares of Palantir.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 forged higher 0.3% Friday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng ballooned 4%.

Oil prices sank 54 cents to $71.94 U.S. a barrel.

Gold prices dipped $9.20 to $2,947.90 U.S. an ounce.