July 9 (Reuters) - Futures tracking Canada's blue-chip

stocks index were mostly flat on Thursday as investors avoided

large bets against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the

Middle East.

September contracts tracking the resources-heavy S&P/TSX

Composite index were flat 0.06% at 6:57 a.m. ET.

* The index logged its biggest daily drop in over a month on

Wednesday as tensions escalated between Iran and the U.S.,

sparking concerns about the economic fallout from the conflict.

* Oil prices were steady after jumping in the previous

session. Brent crude futures traded close to $80 a

barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude was at $72 a

barrel.

* Gold gained ground on an easing dollar and as traders

flocked to the precious metal, seen as a safe haven during times

of uncertainty. Spot gold and silver were up 0.7%

and 1.4%, respectively.

* Key economic data this week include the Canadian jobs

report, which is expected on Friday and could offer clues into

the Bank of Canada's monetary policy path.

* Traders are pricing in that the central bank will keep

interest rates steady for the rest of the year, LSEG-compiled

data showed. Its next policy decision is scheduled for July 15.

* In company news, precious-metals streamer Triple Flag

reported preliminary second-quarter revenue of $129.2

million, up from a year earlier.

* Aerospace electronics supplier Firan Technology Group ( FTGFF )

slightly beatsecond-quarter revenue estimates, helped

by strong demand and aerospace growth.

* Meta announced Wednesday it will build a data center in

central Alberta, marking the tech giant's first in Canada amid

the global AI boom.

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