July 30 (Reuters) - Futures tracking Canada's stock index

ticked higher on Thursday as strong earnings from energy and

mining companies lifted sentiment, while lingering Middle East

tensions continued to support commodity prices.

September futures tracking the S&P/TSX Composite index

were up 0.3% at 6:40 a.m. ET. The main index

closed down 1.2% on Wednesday.

Here are some details:

* Oil prices edged up 0.2% as escalating attacks between the

United States and Iran disrupted oil flows through key shipping

routes.

* Vermilion Energy ( VET ) and Kinross Gold ( KGCRF ) posted

higher second-quarter profits amid a flurry of earnings releases

from energy and mining companies late Wednesday.

* Investors now await quarterly earnings reports from

Eldorado Gold and Baytex Energy, among others, due after the

bell.

* Gold prices were marginally higher on Thursday as markets

assessed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest

rates unchanged, as well as a potential resurgence in inflation

as the Middle East conflict lingers.

* Spot gold gained 0.3%, while silver gained

0.2%.

* Separately, minutes from the Bank of Canada's July 15

meeting released on Wednesday showed that governors were split

over the sustainability of the economic recovery.

* The BoC left interest rates unchanged at its last meeting

and predicted the economy would grow by 2.5% on an annual basis

in the second quarter after grinding to a halt in the first

quarter.

* Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday played down the

idea of curbing oil supplies to the United States to gain

leverage in a trade war, saying that would harm Canada's

reputation.

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