Oct 23 (Reuters) - Futures tied to Canada's main stock

index fell on Wednesday, hurt by crude prices, ahead of the Bank

of Canada's monetary policy decision that is expected to result

in an outsized interest rate cut.

December futures on the S&P/TSX index were down

0.2% at 6:03 a.m. ET (10:03 GMT).

The composite index ended slightly lower on

Tuesday as declines in financial and utilities sectors weighed.

The Canadian central bank's policy meeting at 9:45 a.m. ET

was on the front burner as investors widely anticipated a

50-basis-point cut, the odds of which stand at 91.6%.

A larger-than-usual cut would be its first such reduction in

15 years outside of the pandemic era.

The BoC has offered three separate quarter-point cuts this

year, and with inflation below its 2% target, the top bank would

now prioritize boosting the domestic economy.

Canada's energy sector could be under pressure as oil prices

slipped after industry data revealed U.S. crude inventories

swelled more than expected.

The materials sector could grab the limelight as gold prices

hit a record high on strong demand driven by the Middle East

conflict and uncertainties around the U.S. election. Conversely,

copper prices fell against a stronger dollar.

Global markets felt jitters due to the looming U.S.

presidential election on Nov. 5 as investors remained uncertain

about which candidate could win the White House.

Wall Street futures slipped on Wednesday as Treasury yields

rose, while investors awaited earnings reports from companies

such as Boeing and Tesla.

In corporate news, miner First Quantum Minerals ( FQVLF ) beat

third-quarter profit estimates on higher sales volumes for

copper and gold along with stronger realized gold prices.

COMMODITIES

Gold: $2,750.8; +0.1%

US crude: $70.95; -1.1%

Brent crude: $75.22; -1.1%

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($1 = 1.3822 Canadian dollars)