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Futures on the S&P/TSX index were subdued at 0703 a.m. ET (1203 GMT) while U.S. stock index futures were also muted. [.N]
Focus remains on the Federal Reserve, who will conclude its two-day policy meeting on Wednesday, with bets the U.S. central bank may deliver a dialed-down 50-basis-point rate hike. Data on Tuesday showed that U.S. consumer prices grew at their slowest pace in about a year in November.
The interest rate announcement is due at 1900 GMT.
Canada’s TSX index ended slightly higher on Tuesday, helped by a strong performance in energy shares. [O/R]
Investors are also awaiting domestic manufacturing sales data for October that is expected before the markets open.
Anxious traders will be hoping for a quick verdict as a 20-month-old M&A battle between Canada’s competition bureau, Rogers (NYSE:ROG) Communications Inc and Shaw Communications (NYSE:SJR) Inc draws to a close.
On the research front, CIBC cut railroad operator Canadian National Railway (TSX:CNR) Company to “neutral” from “outperform”.
($1 = 1.3562 Canadian dollars)
