CANADA STOCKS--TSX set to open lower, China manufacturing data weighs
April 23 - Stock futures indicated lower opening for Canadian shares on Wednesday as signs of a slowing Chinese economy and worries about Ukraine offset some positive European economic data.
Chinese factory activity shrank for the fourth straight month in April but private businesses across the euro zone enjoyed their best month in nearly three years.
June futures on the S&P TSX index were down 0.02 percent at 0745 ET.
Retail sales data for Feb is due at 0830 ET
The S&P TSX index rose on Tuesday, helped by a surge in shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc after it offered to buy Botox maker Allergan Inc and an upbeat outlook from Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd .
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were down 0.03 percent at 0745 ET, S&P 500 futures were down 0.09 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures were down 0.18 percent.
(Morning News Call newsletter http://link.reuters.com/nex49s; The Day Ahead newsletter http://link.reuters.com/mex49s)
TOP STORIES
Valeant Pharmaceuticals said it and activist investor Bill Ackman made an unsolicited $47 billion bid to buy Botox maker Allergan as it seeks to become one of the world's five biggest drug companies.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and two private equity consortia are exploring offers for global asset manager Russell Investments, according to several people familiar with the matter.
Contract electronics manufacturer Celestica Inc's quarterly profit more than tripled.
COMMODITIES AT 0745 ET
Gold futures : $1284.6; +0.31 percent
US crude : $101.59; -0.16 percent
Brent crude : $109.39; +0.12 percent
LME 3-month copper : $6638.25; -0.48 percent [MET/L
ANALYST RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Canadian National Railway : Canaccord Genuity raises target price to C$62.50 from C$60.50; rating hold
CI Financial Corp : CIBC raises target price to C$41 from C$39; rating sector performer
Teck Resources : RBC cuts target price to $32 from $33; rating outperform
U.S. ECONOMIC DATA DUE ON WEDNESDAY
09:45 Markit Manufacturing PMI Flash for Apr: Expected 56.0 Prior 55.5
10:00 New Home Sales-Units mm for Mar: Expected 0.450 mln Prior 0.440 mln
10:00 New Home Sales Change mm for Mar: Prior -3.3 pct
FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:
TSX market report
Canadian dollar and bonds report
Reuters global stocks poll for Canada
Canadian markets directory
($1= $1.11 Canadian) (Reporting by Nikhil Kumar in Bangalore; Editing by Ted Kerr)