June 19 (Reuters) - Futures for Canada's main stock

index dipped in low trading volumes on Wednesday as oil prices

receded, while investors awaited more cues on the future path of

rate cuts in the U.S. and Canada.

June futures on the S&P/TSX index were down 0.1% at

6:53 a.m. ET (10:53 GMT).

Trading is expected to be muted throughout the day as the

U.S. markets are closed.

On the TSX, materials stocks are likely to see

another day of gains as copper prices were supported by ore

supply shortages and a soft U.S. dollar, but gains were capped

by Chinese demand concerns.

On the flip side, energy stocks were poised for

declines on easing oil prices, as the market weighed concerns

about escalating conflicts against demand worries from rising

U.S. crude inventories.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index

ended 0.1% higher on Tuesday, buoyed by resources

shares, as it snapped a three-session losing streak.

The benchmark index traded at its lowest level in two months

in two out of the last three sessions, as resources shares

dragged on the index.

Looking forward, domestic retail sales numbers due on Friday

will be in the limelight, guiding expectations of further rate

cuts by the Bank of Canada in the year.

The central bank indicated at its last decision, where it

trimmed borrowing costs and became the first G7 country to do

so, that more cuts would be gradual and data-dependent.

Meanwhile, lower-than-expected growth in retail sales in the

U.S. on Tuesday revived some hopes of the Federal Reserve

commencing its easing cycle in September.

COMMODITIES AT 6:53 a.m. ET

Gold futures: $2,331.6; -0.1%

US crude: $81.37; -0.3%

Brent crude: $85.18; -0.2%