Bay Street Seen Opening On Mixed Note

(RTTNews) - Canadian shares are likely to open on a mixed note Wednesday morning with investors assessing the potential impact of impending tariffs from the U.S., and tracking commodity prices and the trend in European markets.

The mood is likely to remain cautious as investors await crucial U.S. PCE data later in the week for more clarity about the Federal Reserve's interest rate moves.

Sangoma Technologies Corporation (SANG.TO) announced a Normal Course Issuer Bid - NCIB for its common shares following the early achievement of its debt reduction targets. Earlier this week, the company made an additional $2.9 million debt repayment, bringing total Q3 repayments to $7.3 million and fully settling Term Loan 1.

Dundee Corporation (DC-A.TO) reported fourth-quarter net loss of $8.2 million compared with a profit of $2.8 million, a year earlier. The company said fourth-quarter loss from all portfolio investments widened to $2.1 million compared with a loss of $0.8 million, a year-ago.

The Canadian market ended marginally up on Tuesday, supported by gains in consumer staples, materials and communications sectors.

Although optimism about some tariff exemptions by the Trump administration lifted the market early on in the session, investors turned cautious, choosing to wait for more clarity about the U.S. President's moves.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index ended with a gain of 35.40 points or 0.14% at 25,339.51, after scaling a low of 25,318.27 and a high of 25,454.86 intraday.

Asian stocks closed mostly higher on Wednesday despite deteriorating U.S. consumer confidence in the face of tariff fears coincided with economists' forecasts suggesting a risk of stagflation and rising odds of recession.

Japanese markets advanced after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to take "strong measures" to counter soaring prices.

European stocks broadly lower, although the U.K. market outperforms thanks to data showing a smaller than expected increase in inflation in the month of February.

In commodities, West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures are up $0.61 or 0.88% at $69.61 a barrel.

Gold futures are gaining $6.30 or 0.21% at $3,032.10 an ounce, while Silver futures are up $0.093 or 0.27% at $34.280 an ounce.