Feb 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was set to start lower on Wednesday following a decline in oil prices as the dollar strengthened against a basket of currencies ahead of minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve's last meeting.
March futures on the S&P TSX index SXFc1 were down 0.12 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET.
Canada retail sales data for December is due at 8:30 a.m. ET. ECONCA
The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index closed at a record high on Tuesday, with energy shares leading broad-based gains as oil prices climbed, while Restaurant Brands International Inc QSR.TO jumped more than 7 percent after it announced acquisition of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen PLKI.O for $1.8 billion in cash. Jones Industrial Average e-mini futures 1YMc1 were down 0.06 percent at 7:15 a.m. ET, while S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 were down 0.17 percent and Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures NQc1 were down 0.08 percent. .N
(Morning News Call newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNC_US.pdf ; The Day Ahead newsletter http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/The_Day_Ahead/TDA_NAM.pdf)
TOP STORIES TOP/CAN
Demonstrators near the site of the Dakota Access pipeline braced for a showdown with authorities, as protest leaders said at least some would defy a deadline to abandon the camp they have occupied for months to halt the project. dairy company Saputo Inc SAP.TO bought out Australian firm Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Co Holdings Ltd's (WCB) WCB.AX largest minority shareholder, Lion Pty Ltd, all but securing a takeover offer for the 12 percent of WCB that Saputo does not already own. meat packaging company Maple Leaf Foods Inc 's MFI.TO quarterly profit more than doubled as margins in its prepared meats business improved. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS RCH/CA
Capital Power CPX.TO : National Bank Financial raises target price to C$30 from C$29
Sienna Senior Living Inc SIA.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$17.25 from C$17.00
Veresen Inc VSN.TO : Desjardins raises target price to C$14 from C$13; rating "hold"
COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET COM/WRAP
Gold futures GCc1 : $1237.1; -0.03 percent GOL/
US crude CLc1 : $54.05; -0.52 percent O/R
Brent crude LCOc1 : $56.4; -0.46 percent O/R
LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $5995; -1.07 percent MET/L
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY
10:00 Existing home sales for Jan: Expected 5.54 mln; Prior 5.49 mln
10:00 Existing home sales percentage change for Jan: Expected 1.1 pct; Prior -2.8 pct
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:
TSX market report .TO
Canadian dollar and bonds report CAD/ CA/
Reuters global stocks poll for Canada EQUITYPOLL1 EPOLL/CA
Canadian markets directory CANADA ($1= C$1.32)