CANADA STOCKS-TSX Futures Flat on Trade Uncertainties

• CANADA STOCKS-TSX Futures Flat on Trade Uncertainties

Futures on Canada’s main stock index were flat as investors await the outcome of talks between the United States and Canada to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday the two countries made progress in negotiations and officials would work together to flesh out areas for further discussion.

Beijing has warned of retaliation if Washington implements any new tariff measures. Recent reports have said U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to move ahead with tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports.

September futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 0.03 percent at 7:00 a.m. ET.

July’s building permits data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET.

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX fell 23.73 points, or 0.15 percent, to 16,137.57 on Wednesday.

Dow Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures were up 0.02 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures were down 0.04 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures were down 0.1 percent.

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Creditors of Hudson’s Bay Co have agreed to a merger of the Canadian retailer’s German department store chain Kaufhof with rival Karstadt, owned by Austria’s Signa Holding, German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported.

Walmart Inc’s Canadian unit said it would buy 30 more of Tesla Inc’s all-electric 18-wheeler semi-trucks as part of a plan to have 100 percent of its fleet use alternative power by 2028.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc reported a quarterly profit that topped analysts’ estimates on Wednesday as the world’s second-biggest convenience store operator benefited from higher fuel sales.