June futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 0.4% at 6:59 a.m. ET. Crude prices fell after edging higher earlier in the day as markets remained wary of monetary tightening by major central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and European Central Bank, in their upcoming policy meetings. Gold prices dropped against the dollar, as investors shied away from making big bets ahead of U.S. economic data that could determine the Fed's rate-hike strategy. U.S. stock index futures also slipped, while investors remain on the sidelines to evaluate earnings results of major companies set for the week to gauge the health of corporate America and the U.S. economy. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index ended lower on Monday as technology and financial sectors' drag offset gains in resource stocks.
In company news, Canadian National Railway Co reported quarterly adjusted earnings of C$1.82?? per share, beating analysts' average estimate of C$1.72 per share. National Bank of Canada upgraded energy company Pason Systems Inc to "outperform" from "sector perform."
COMMODITIES AT 6:59 a.m. ET
Gold futures : $1,984.1; -0.33% US crude : $78.3; -0.58% Brent crude : $82.23; -0.60% FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES: TSX market report Canadian dollar and bonds report Reuters global stocks poll for Canada Canadian markets directory ($1 = 1.3568 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru; Editing by Shweta Agarwal)
