Sept 7 (Reuters) - Stock futures pointed to a lower opening for Canada's main stock index on Friday on fears over an escalation in the trade conflict between the United States and China.
The public comment period on the United States' proposal to impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion worth of Chinese imports passed at 0400 GMT on Friday. The tariffs could now go into effect at any moment and China is expected to retaliate if Washington launches any new measures. U.S. and Canadian negotiators pushed ahead in grinding talks to rescue the North American Free Trade Agreement on Thursday, but a few stubborn issues stood in the way of a deal, including dairy quotas. futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.28 percent at 7:05 a.m. ET.
Unemployment data for August is due at 8:30 a.m. ET, while August's purchasing activity data is due at 10:00 a.m. ET.
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX .GSPTSE fell 36.63 points, or 0.23 percent, to 16,100.94 on Thursday. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.14 percent at 7:05 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.14 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.17 percent. .N
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
U.S. and Canadian negotiators pushed ahead in grinding talks to rescue the North American Free Trade Agreement on Thursday, but a few stubborn issues stood in the way of a deal, including dairy quotas, protection for Canadian media companies, and how to resolve future trade disputes. Lundin Mining Corp LUN.TO said on Thursday it does not plan to revise its hostile bid for fellow base-metal miner Nevsun Resources Ltd NSU.TO after it was trumped by a C$1.86 billion offer from China's Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd 601899.SS . TELUS Health is joining forces with London-based AI company Babylon to bring virtual medical services, including video consultations, to Canadians who do not have a family doctor or are in rural locations far from a surgery. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Maxar Technologies Ltd MAXR.TO : CIBC cuts target price to C$69 from C$82.50
Transcontinental Inc TCLa.TO : Canaccord Genuity cuts price target to C$28 from C$29
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc2 : $1,202.3; +0.28 pct GOL/
U.S. crude CLc1 : $67.91; +0.21 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $76.70; +0.26 pct O/R
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON FRIDAY
0730 Non-farm payrolls for Aug: Expected 191,000; Prior 157,000
0815 Private payrolls for Aug: Expected 190,000; Prior 170,000
0830 Manufacturing payrolls for Aug: Expected 24,000; Prior 37,000
0830 Government payrolls for Aug: Prior -13,000
0830 Unemployment rate for Aug: Expected 3.8 pct; Prior 3.9 pct
0830 Average earnings mm for Aug: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior 0.3 pct
0830 Average earnings yy for Aug: Expected 2.7 pct; Prior 2.7 pct
0945 Average work week hours for Aug: Expected 34.5 hrs; Prior 34.5 hrs
0945 Labor force participation for Aug: Prior 62.9 pct
1000 U6 Underemployment for Aug: Prior 7.5 pct
1000 ECRI Weekly Index for Aug: Prior 147.3
1000 ECRI weekly annualized for Aug: Prior -0.2 pct
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