Jan 6 (Reuters) - Futures tracking Canada's main stock

index inched higher on Monday ahead of crucial economic data in

the week, while investors exercised some caution after reports

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau likely to announce resignation.

March futures on the S&P/TSX index were up 0.4%, as

of 6.41 a.m. ET (1141 a.m. GMT).

Trudeau is increasingly likely to announce he intends to

step down, though he has not made a final decision, a source

said on Sunday. His resignation could spur calls for a fresh

election, adding some uncertainty to the political landscape.

Calls for Trudeau to step aside have grown since December,

when his closest ally Chrystia Freeland resigned as the

country's finance minister after clashing with him on issues

including how to handle possible U.S. tariffs.

Separately, focus will be on the domestic employment data,

scheduled to release on Friday, to gauge the Canadian economy's

health and the interest rate path of the Bank of Canada. Traders

are anticipating a near 70% chance for a 25-basis-point rate

cut.

Additionally, investors will be hawk-eyed for the U.S.

nonfarm payrolls data, also due on Friday, and comments by

Federal Reserve officials, including the influential Fed

Governor Christopher Waller, for any clues on the central bank's

policy easing.

Minutes from the Fed's last meeting are scheduled on

Wednesday.

Back home, the Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite

index ended 0.7% higher on Friday to round out a

positive holiday-shortened week.

Among commodities, oil prices steadied at

their highest since mid-October in the day, as colder weather

spurred buying. Gold prices were also up.

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