June 12 (Reuters) - Futures linked to Canada's main

stock index fell on Thursday as optimism over tame U.S.

inflation figures waned, while escalating tensions in the Middle

East prompted investors to adopt a more cautious stance.

June futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 0.3% at

05:30 a.m. ET (09:30 GMT).

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index had

reached a record closing high on Wednesday after U.S. consumer

prices rose less than expected in May, boosting prospects for

Federal Reserve interest rate cuts in coming months.

Geopolitical concerns dampened investor sentiment on

Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced some U.S.

personnel were being relocated from the Middle East amid rising

tensions with Iran.

In commodities, gold prices rose to a one-week high.

Copper prices also climbed, while oil prices eased,

reversing earlier gains made during Asian trading.

Markets faced additional uncertainty as Trump said on

Wednesday that he was willing to extend the deadline for trade

talks, although he deemed it unlikely, with the U.S. planning to

send offer letters to countries in the coming weeks.

This week's focus centered on U.S.-China trade talks, which

resulted in a deal to restore their truce. Despite the progress,

longstanding tensions persisted as some tariffs remained in

place.

With Trump's July 8 tariff pause deadline approaching,

investors are concerned about whether other countries can secure

trade agreements with the U.S.

In corporate news, Ivanhoe Mines ( IVPAF ) said it had

resumed underground mining in part of its Kakula copper mine in

the Democratic Republic of Congo, which had been closed due to

seismic activity, but lowered its output forecast for the year.

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