RTTN: TSX May Open Lower On Economic Growth Jitters - Canadian Commentary
(RTTNews) - Toronto stocks may struggle to move higher at open Thursday on falling commodities and resurfaced worries over the euro zone debt situation.
European leaders will begin a 2-day meeting in Brussels Thursday to try and agree the next steps in tackling the euro zone debt crisis.
Food products company George Weston may be in focus after announcing a $1 billion payout in special dividend.
U.S. stock futures were pointing to a flat open.
On Wednesday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index shed 51.01 points or 0.38% to 13, 229.07.
The price of crude oil edged down even after an official report revealed that U.S. crude oil inventories were down by a huge 9.9 million barrels last week. Crude for January edged down $0.43 to $88.19 a barrel.
The price of gold moved down for a second day amid a firm U.S. dollar, with gold for February losing $10.20 to $1,376.00 an ounce.
In corporate news from Canada, food products company George Weston (WN.TO) said it will pay a $1 billion special dividend, which works out to C$7.74751 per share, on January 25 to shareholders of record as of January 18.
Telecommunications services provider COGECO Inc. (CGO.TO) reported fiscal year 2010 net income of C$56.3 million or C$3.36 per share. Excluding certain unusual adjustments recorded in fiscal 2010 and 2009, adjusted net income totaled C$46.6 million or C$2.79 per share, compared to C$36.4 million or C$2.18 per share last year.
Tour operator Transat A.T. Inc. (TRZ_A.TO) reported much improved fourth quarter net earnings of C$52.36 million or C$1.37 per share, compared to C$18.11 million or C$0.52 per share last year.
Software services company Enghouse Systems (ESL.TO) reported improved fourth-quarter net income of C$3.4 million or C$0.13 per share, compared to net income of C$2.6 million or C$0.10 per share in the same quarter last year. The company declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.04 per share.
Gold miner Agnico-Eagle Mines (AEM.TO) guided that its payable gold production is expected to be in the range of 1.13 million and 1.23 million ounces in 2011. for the subsequent four years, the company expects to produce an average of 1.36 million ounces of gold per year. The company declared a quarterly cash dividend for 2011 of $0.16 per common share.
Gold miner Newmont Mining (NEM) said Wednesday that it acquired 2 million units of Loncor Resources Inc. (LN.V) at C$1.95 per unit, aggregating $3.90 million.
European Goldfields (EGU.TO) said it arrange a $300 million secured Term and Revolving Facility for its Greek subsidiary Hellas Gold SA.