Feb 18 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Wednesday, as gold and oil prices recovered from losses in the previous session, while investors awaited the minutes of the U.S. Federal Reserve's meeting in January.
March futures on S&P/TSX composite index gained 0.48%, as of 5:42 a.m. ET.
Toronto's benchmark index (.GSPTSE), had slipped 0.5% on Tuesday, as declines in commodity prices brought mining and energy shares down, offsetting domestic data which showed inflation in January accelerated at a slower pace and likely forestalling a shift to interest rate hikes by the Bank of Canada.
On Wednesday, spot gold gained 0.7% and silver climbed 2.9%, ahead of the U.S. Fed minutes due later in the day, while copper prices also recovered on bargain buying.
Investors are also looking ahead to the U.S. Personal Consumption Expenditures report for December, due on Friday, to see what the Fed's monetary policy is likely to be this year. Markets currently expect the first interest rate cut in June, according to CME's FedWatch Tool.
Oil prices also rebounded from a more than 2% slump on Tuesday, but investors remained cautious despite the Iranian foreign minister saying the U.S. and Iran have reached an understanding on "guiding principles" for talks aimed at resolving the nuclear dispute.
Brent crude futures and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (.CLc1), were up 0.5% each.
On the macroeconomic front, Canadian home sales dropped 5.8% in January, affected by a severe winter storm.
In after-market earnings on Tuesday, insurance firm iA Financial (IAG.TO), reported fourth-quarter profit below estimates and miner IAMGOLD (IMG.TO), reported quarterly revenue above estimates.
Gold miner Agnico Eagle (AEM.TO), announced additional investment in Maple Gold Mines (MGM.V).
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:
TSX market report
Canadian dollar and bonds report CA/
Reuters global stocks poll for Canada ,
Canadian markets directory
Reporting by Utkarsh Tushar Hathi; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri
