Feb 24 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock index

rose on Monday, buoyed by higher gold prices, after a major

sell-off in the previous session.

March futures on the S&P/TSX index were up 0.54% at

7.00 a.m. ET (1200 GMT).

Gold prices edged up to trade near its record peak,

helped by a weaker U.S. dollar.

TSX fell to a five-week low on Friday, weighed by declines

for energy, metal mining and high-flying technology shares, as

commodity prices declined and investors grew more risk-averse.

Oil prices steadied on Monday as investors

awaited clarity on talks to end the war in Ukraine and weighed

the prospect of a resumption in crude exports from northern

Iraq.

This week, Canada and Mexico are expected to intensify

discussions to avoid 25% tariffs on their exports to the U.S.,

aiming to convince President Donald Trump's administration that

their efforts to enhance border security and curb fentanyl

trafficking are effective, ahead of a March 4 deadline.

The U.S. Federal Reserve's favored measure of core inflation

is due on Friday and is expected to slow to 2.6% in January from

2.8% in December.

In Canada, a reading of fourth-quarter gross domestic

product numbers is also due on Friday.

In corporate news, Britain's National Grid has

reached a deal to sell its U.S. onshore renewables business to

investment firm Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) for $1.74

billion including debt, it said on Monday.

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