July 9 (Reuters) - Futures tracking Canada's blue-chip stocks index were mostly flat on Thursday as investors avoided large bets against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
September contracts tracking the resources-heavy S&P/TSX Composite index were flat 0.06% at 6:57 a.m. ET.
The index logged its biggest daily drop in over a month on Wednesday as tensions escalated between Iran and the U.S., sparking concerns about the economic fallout from the conflict.
Oil prices were steady after jumping in the previous session. Brent crude futures traded close to $80 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude was at $72 a barrel.
Gold gained ground on an easing dollar and as traders flocked to the precious metal, seen as a safe haven during times of uncertainty. Spot gold and silver <XAG=> were up 0.7% and 1.4%, respectively.
Key economic data this week include the Canadian jobs report, which is expected on Friday and could offer clues into the Bank of Canada's monetary policy path.
Traders are pricing in that the central bank will keep interest rates steady for the rest of the year, LSEG-compiled data showed. Its next policy decision is scheduled for July 15.
In company news, precious-metals streamer Triple Flag (TFPM.TO), reported preliminary second-quarter revenue of $129.2 million, up from a year earlier.
Aerospace electronics supplier Firan Technology Group (FTG.TO), slightly beat second-quarter revenue estimates, helped by strong demand and aerospace growth.
Meta announced Wednesday it will build a data center in central Alberta, marking the tech giant's first in Canada amid the global AI boom.
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Reporting by Sudeshna Ghoshal in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas
