Morning Chatter

PRE-OPEN Futures are again higher as investors looked for tariff negotiations between U.S. and its trading partners with focus on the Bank of Canada's interest rate decision that comes later in the day. The Canadian central bank is largely expected to keep rates steady. U.S. stock index futures edged higher, lifted by tech shares that rose on AI optimism, while investors awaited services PMI numbers and ADP national employment data to gauge the extent of economic toll from President Donald Trump's tariffs. Meanwhile, European shares were higher with Germany's benchmark index DAX hitting a record high after the country’s cabinet approved a 46-billion-euro corporate tax relief package to boost economic growth. Japan’s Nikkei closed higher on hopes of positive trade negotiations between the U.S. and its trading partners. Separately, oil prices inched up amid fears of supply pressures due to Canadian wildfires. Gold prices were little changed after initially rising on a weaker U.S. dollar.