July 21 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index futures were little changed as oil prices fell after the U.S. Energy Department reported a ninth consecutive weekly drawdown of crude stocks but an overall build in oil inventories.
Crude inventories fell 2.3 million barrels in the week ending July 15, data from the statistical arm of the Energy Department showed on Wednesday.
But at 519.5 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are at historically high levels for this time of year, the EIA said. futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.04 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Wholesale trade data is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. ECONCA
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index rose to an 11-month high, then retraced gains to end barely higher on Wednesday, with gains for railways and banks offset by sharp losses among gold miners. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.15 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were up 0.03 percent. .N
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TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Oil and gas producer Encana Corp ECA.TO reported an unexpected quarterly operating profit, helped by a cost-cutting drive, and said it would raise its 2016 capital expenditure program. contractor Precision Drilling Corp PD.TO posted a bigger second-quarter loss, hurt by the lowest drilling activity in decades during the period as oil producers slashed spending. antitrust watchdog on Thursday gave the green light to a A$9.1 billion ($6.79 billion) buyout of rail freight giant Asciano Ltd AIO.AX by a global consortium led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc BAMa.TO . AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1,312.80; -0.45 pct GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $45.62; -0.26 pct O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $46.98; -0.40 pct O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $4,967; +0.02 pct MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Colabor Group Inc GCL.TO : Desjardins cuts target price to C$1.20 from C$1.50
Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd CP.TO : UBS raises target price to C$225 from C$193
Norbord Inc OSB.TO : Dundee raises target price to C$38 from C$35
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON THURSDAY
0830 Initial jobless claims: Expected 265,000; Prior 254,000
0830 Jobless claim 4 week average: Prior 259,000
0830 Continues jobless claim: Expected 2.145 mln; Prior 2.149 mln
0830 Chicago Fed National Activity Index for Jun: Prior -0.51
0830 Philadelphia Fed General Business Activity Index for Jul: Expected 5.0; Prior 4.7
0830 Philadelphia Fed future general business activity index for Jul: Prior 29.80
0830 Philadelphia Fed Future capital expenditures, Index for Jul: Prior 7.10
0830 Philadelphia Fed Employment, Index for Jul: Prior -10.90
0830 Philadelphia Fed Prices Paid, Index for Jul: Prior 23.00
0830 Philadelphia Fed New Orders, Index for Jul: Prior -3.00
0900 Monthly home price mm for May: Prior 0.2 pct
0900 Monthly home price yy for May: Prior 5.9 pct
0900 Monthly Home Price Index for May: Prior 233.8
1000 Existing home sales for Jun: Expected 5.48 mln; Prior 5.53 mln
1000 Existing home sales percentage change for Jun: Expected -0.5 pct; Prior 1.8 pct
1000 Leading Economic Index change mm for Jun: Expected 0.2 pct; Prior -0.2 pct
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