July 29 (Reuters) - Futures tracking Canada's
commodity-heavy stock index edged higher on Wednesday as oil
prices climbed amid renewed hostilities in the Middle East,
while investors awaited the Federal Reserve's monetary policy
decision due later in the day.
September futures tracking the resource-heavy S&P/TSX
Composite index were up 0.1% at 6:40 a.m. ET.
* Oil prices gained as tensions in the Middle East escalated
following joint strikes by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in Iraq.
Brent crude futures advanced 5%, while West Texas
Intermediate crude rose 4.7%.
* Gold prices ticked marginally higher ahead of the Fed
meeting. Spot gold was up 0.1%, while silver
gained 0.7%.
* The Fed's policy decision is due at 2:00 p.m. ET, followed
by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's comments.
* Traders are pricing in a 36.4% likelihood of the U.S.
central bank hiking interest rates, LSEG-compiled data showed.
However, they see interest rates rising by at least 25 basis
points by year-end.
* Investors are also assessing earnings from a swath of
miners and energy companies that reported quarterly results late
on Tuesday, while another batch is due after the bell.
* Canada's benchmark index hit a record high in the previous
session as technology shares logged their best two-day
rally since 2002.
* On the trade front, U.S. President Donald Trump said on
Tuesday that he does not care about updating the North American
trade agreement, even as Canada disclosed plans to send senior
trade officials to Washington for more talks.
* In company news, oil and gas major Cenovus Energy
posted a rise in second-quarter revenue and profit on higher oil
prices.
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