Canada Stocks: TSX futures fall as investors assess Fed minutes

Nutrien

19/02/2026 10:50

Feb 19 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index fell on Thursday, as investors assessed minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve, even as gold and oil prices extended gains.

March futures on S&P/TSX composite index SXFcv1 slipped 0.37%, as of 5:30 a.m. ET.

Toronto's benchmark index .GSPTSE gained 1.5% on Wednesday as technology shares rebounded after worries eased on AI disruption, while miners also gained on strength in precious metals.

The Federal Reserve policymakers were split in their January meeting over the next steps, with "several" open to rate hikes if inflation remains elevated and others inclined to support further cuts if inflation recedes as expected.

The weekly jobless claims data, due later in the day, and Friday's Personal Consumption Expenditures report, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, will provide further clues on the central bank's policy trajectory.

U.S. stock futures slipped with focus turning back to AI-related concerns with Apple AAPL.O, Nvidia NVDA.O and Meta Platforms META.O trading lower in premarket trading.

On Thursday, spot gold XAU= gained 0.1% and silver XAG= rose 1.4% amid lingering tensions between the U.S. and major crude producer Iran.

The White House said on Wednesday some progress was made during talks with Iran in Geneva earlier this week, but distance remained on some issues. Meanwhile, satellite images have shown Iran repairing and fortifying military sites.

Oil prices gained, with Brent futures LCOc1 and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rising more than 1% each.

In after-market earnings on Wednesday, fertilizer producer Nutrien NTR.TO missed quarterly profit estimates on lower crop nutrient volumes.

Among miners, Kinross Gold K.TO and Teck Resources TECKb.TO beat quarterly profit estimates.

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

 (Reporting by Utkarsh Tushar Hathi; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)

 ((utkarshtushar.hathi@thomsonreuters.com))