Feb 20 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's primary stock

index remained steady on Thursday as market participants weighed

the potential consequences of fresh tariff threats issued by

U.S. President Donald Trump.

As of 6:24 a.m. ET (11:24 GMT), March futures on the S&P/TSX

index was flat.

Trump announced plans to unveil fresh tariffs within the

next month or sooner, targeting lumber and forest products in

addition to previously announced duties on imported cars,

semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.

This announcement is particularly significant for Canada,

one of the globe's leading producers and exporters of softwood

lumber, with the lion's share of these exports destined for the

United States.

Amidst the renewed tariff threats, gold prices soared to

unprecedented heights, as fears of a global trade war pushed

investors towards the safe-haven metal.

Later in the day, investors are set to digest a U.S. weekly

jobless claims report and remarks from at least four Federal

Reserve officials, including Chicago Fed President Austan

Goolsbee.

Meanwhile, oil prices held steady on Thursday after climbing

to nearly a one-week high in the previous session after an

industry report indicated a buildup in U.S. crude stockpiles.

On Wednesday, the S&P/TSX Composite index shed

0.09%, or 22.68 points, closing at 25,626.16.

In corporate developments, Canadian oil and gas giant

Cenovus Energy ( CVE ) reported a decline in fourth-quarter

profits, while Canadian miner Teck Resources ( TECK ) exceeded

analysts' expectations for profit in the same period.

Top potash producer Nutrien ( NTR ) fell short of Wall

Street's forecasts for its fourth-quarter earnings, while

Manulife Financial ( MFC ) saw a 6% increase in quarterly

profit.

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