TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock market index may open higher on Monday as firm U.S. crude oil and strong gold prices prop up the resource-laden market.
Here is some news that could affect stock prices:
U.S. STOCK FUTURES
U.S. stock index futures rose on Monday as Greece prepared to test demand for the battered country's debt and investors shifted focus to key jobs data later this week.
GREEK BOND ISSUE
Greece said Monday it will issue 7-year bonds, but didn't give details on the size or date of the offering. Athens needs to raise about 20 billion euro ($27 billion) by the end of April.
GOLD HIGHER
Gold hit its highest mark in more than a week on Monday due to strong physical buying and the dollar's further fall against the euro after last week's aid deal for debt laden Greece.
U.S. CRUDE OIL
Oil prices rose toward $81 a barrel on Monday, recouping some of the previous session's losses, supported by a weaker dollar and positive data, including a rise in euro zone sentiment in March.
COPPER HIGHER
Copper rose on Monday to its highest in about 3 months, as a weaker dollar attracted non-U.S. investors and yet another fall in inventories pointed to improving demand.
G8 MEETING
Canada will press the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations to tighten United Nations sanctions on Iran when it hosts a meeting of foreign ministers from the grouping on Monday and Tuesday.
AIR CANADA
Air Canada Chief Executive Calin Rovinescu said on Friday he's beginning to see signs of a recovery for the North American airline industry as cargo volumes rise.
RESEARCH ROUNDUP
Following is a summary of research actions on Canadian companies reported by Reuters on Monday.
Goldman Sachs raises Brookfield Properties price target to $17 from $15.
RBC raises Petrominerales Ltd price target to C$41 from C$39; Rating Outperform.
($1=$1.02 Canadian)
(Reporting by Scott Anderson, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
