March 10 (Reuters) - Futures tied to Canada's main stock

index fell on Monday as concerns of a global trade war

persisted, while investors also eyed the Bank of Canada's

interest rate decision later in the week.

The futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 1% at

6:41 a.m. ET (1042 GMT).

The benchmark index had registered its biggest weekly

decline since December on Friday as trade tensions lingered

despite U.S. President Donald Trump suspending tariffs on most

goods from Canada and Mexico for 30 days.

Meanwhile, former central banker Mark Carney won the race to

become leader of Canada's ruling Liberal Party and will succeed

Justin Trudeau as prime minister, official results showed on

Sunday.

Carney, a political novice, argued that he was best

placed to revive the party and to oversee trade negotiations

with Trump, who had threatened additional tariffs

on Friday

.

Investor focus is also on the Bank of Canada meeting this

week, where the central bank is likely to cut interest rates by

25 basis points.

BofA Global Research expects the central bank to provide

additional support to the Canadian economy by cutting rates

further.

The policymakers' comments will also take center stage amid

heightened uncertainty posed by the U.S. trade policy.

In commodities, oil prices inched up, though investors

remained worried over the impact of U.S. tariffs on global

economic growth and fuel demand, as well as rising output from

OPEC+ producers.

Gold prices were mostly steady, while copper prices edged

lower on Monday.

In corporate news, Japan's Seven & i Holdings ( SVNDF ) said

that talks have begun with Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard

(ACT) over a store sale plan that would set the stage for ACT's

$47 billion takeover bid.

FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:

TSX market report

Canadian dollar and bonds report

Reuters global stocks poll for Canada

Canadian markets directory

($1 = 1.4358 Canadian dollars)