July 10 (Reuters) - Futures linked to Canada's main

stock index edged higher on Thursday, with investors dismissing

U.S. tariff threats and awaiting signs of progress on trade

talks.

Futures on Toronto's S&P/TSX index were up 0.2% by

06:25 a.m. ET (1025 GMT).

Canada is seeking to finalise a free trade deal with

Southeast Asian nations as part of an attempt to expand into new

markets, its foreign minister said, as a response to the hefty

tariffs imposed by the U.S.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a new 50%

tariff on copper, set to go into effect on August 1, and

threatened to slap 50% levies on exports from Brazil.

Trump also issued new tariff letters to seven minor trading

partners, adding to the 14 others issued earlier in the week.

Canada, which aims to reach a trade deal with Washington by

July 21, could impose counter-duties on the U.S. if no agreement

is reached.

Gold prices rose on Thursday, supported by a pullback

in the dollar and the prospect of U.S. interest rate cuts later

in the year. Oil prices declined moderately.

In company news, Canada Goose's private equity

backer, Bain Capital, is considering a sale of its stake in the

luxury brand, Bloomberg News reported.

The benchmark S&P/TSX composite index rose on

Wednesday, with the materials group leading a broad-based

advance as gains for U.S. technology shares fed recent investor

exuberance.

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