BANGALORE (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index looked set to open little changed on Wednesday, as unexpectedly weak economic data offset gains in the prices of some commodities.
U.S. stock index futures were flat on Wednesday, paring gains after a U.S. report showed the private sector added fewer jobs this month than expected.
And a report showed Canada's economy unexpectedly stalled in April on a slide in retail sales, suggesting the pace of growth will slow in the second quarter after the fastest growth in a decade in the first quarter.
Asian stocks fell ending the second quarter with their worst performance since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, as investors got out of shares and high-yielding currencies.
Here is some news that could affect stock prices:
OIL RISES
Oil rose by one percent on Wednesday to move back above $76 a barrel, but was still headed for its first quarterly drop since 2008 as stresses in financial markets weighed on expectations about the pace of recovery.
COPPER UP
Copper prices rose on Wednesday, echoing gains in equities and the euro, and bouncing back from the previous session's steep falls, but gains looked fragile as concerns about global demand prospects persisted.
GOLD FALLS
Gold turned lower in Europe on Wednesday, touching a session low at $1,235.77 an ounce, after data showing the U.S. private employers added fewer jobs than expected in June prompted selling of stocks and commodities.
BOMBARDIER WINS $101 MLN INDIA METRO CAR ORDER
Bombardier Inc won a $101 million order for 74 metro cars from India's Delhi Metro Rail Corp Ltd, the world's No. 1 train manufacturer said on Wednesday.
IAMGOLD STARTS ESSAKANE MINE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Canadian miner Iamgold Corp said on Tuesday that it had started up its Essakane gold mine in west Africa six weeks ahead of production schedule and six months ahead of the original year-end 2010 target.
NO TALKS ON ALASKA PIPELINE DEAL-TRANSCANADA EXEC
TransCanada Corp would offer equity stakes in its $41 billion Alaska gas pipeline to companies proposing a rival project, but there have been no talks to date, a TransCanada executive said on Tuesday.
IVANHOE TO GET $393 MLN FOR MONGOLIA PROJECT
Ivanhoe Mines said on Tuesday it would receive $393.1 million for developing Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia, after its partner Rio Tinto exercised certain share warrants in the Canadian company.
ALTIUS POSTS PROFIT ON ONE-TIME GAIN
Canada's Altius Minerals Corp reported quarterly profit on Tuesday, following a gain from the sale of its 9.4 percent stake in International Royalty Co, but revenue nearly dried up because a strike at a Canadian mine.
ATIS GROUP DEFERS IPO DUE
Canada's Atis Group Inc Tuesday deferred its proposed initial public offering due to "unfavorable market conditions.
JAZZ AIR, FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' UNION SIGN TENTATIVE DEAL
Canada's Jazz Air Income Fund said it reached a tentative labor contract with its flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Flight Attendants Union (CFAU).
WEST 49 TO BE ACQUIRED BY BILLABONG
Canadian teenage clothing retailer West 49 Inc said it agreed to be acquired by Australia-based Billabong International Ltd in a deal valued at about C$83 million ($78.75 million).
($1=$1.05 Canadian)
(Reporting by Bangalore newsroom, editing by Bhaswati Mukhopadhyay and Jeffrey Hodgson)
