TSX futures rise ahead of Bank of Canadas rate decision

(Reuters) – Canadian stock futures rose on Wednesday as precious metals gained, with investors awaiting the Bank of Canadas (BoC) interest rate decision later in the day.

March futures on the S&P/TSX index were up 0.2% at 7:21 a.m. ET. Their peers on Wall Street also edged higher.

The BoC is expected to keep rates on hold at 4.5% at 10 a.m. ET, becoming the first of the worlds major central banks to suspend their tightening campaign, after economic growth stalled in the fourth quarter of last year.

Gold prices edged up 0.1% in volatile trade, while silver prices rose 0.2%, providing some support to the futures of the commodity-heavy index.

Among stocks, U.S. pipeline regulator said it would require TC Energy to reduce operating pressure on more than 1,000 additional miles (1,609 kilometers) of its Keystone pipeline that spilled about 13,000 barrels of oil in rural Kansas in December.

Activist investor Legion Partners Asset Management is pushing for four new directors to join Primo Water Corps board, arguing they could help its share price triple over five years.

The Toronto Stock Exchanges S&P/TSX composite index ended 1.2% lower on Tuesday after hawkish remarks by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that left open the possibility for larger U.S. rate hikes. [.TO]

COMMODITIES AT 7:00 a.m. ET

Gold futures: $1,816; +0.1% [GOL/]

US crude: $77.4; -0.23% [O/R]

Brent crude: $83.3; -0.01% [O/R]

U.s. economic data due on wednesday

Feb ADP National Employment report due at 8:15 a.m. ET

Jan JOLTS Job Openings due at 10:00 a.m. ET

FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:

TSX market report [.TO]

Canadian dollar and bonds report [CAD/] [CA/]

Reuters global stocks poll for Canada

Canadian markets directory

($1 = 1.3749 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh Venkateshwaran)