Dec 29 (Reuters) - Futures linked to Canada's main stock

index were subdued on Monday following a holiday break, starting

the final week of the year cautiously, as metal prices

retreated.

The March futures on the S&P/TSX ‌index were down

0.09% as of 06:41 a.m. ET.

Toronto's S&P/TSX composite index ​fell on

Wednesday on Christmas Eve during thin holiday trading, ‍as

mining stocks surrendered some of the gains ⁠accumulated in 2025.

Mining ⁠and financial shares have been the key drivers this

year, lifting the ‌TSX to a third consecutive ​annual gain and its

strongest performance since 2009, with about a 30% rise.

This month, the index ⁠is on track for about ‍a ​2% advance,

supported by strong gains in metal prices.

Weighing on futures early on Monday, gold declined

1.4%, while silver ‍retreated from an all-time high of $83.62

reached earlier in the session. Investors booked profits amid

perceptions of easing geopolitical tensions, which reduced

safe-haven buying.

Oil prices , however, provided some support to

the commodity market with an over 2% rise, as ​investors ‍weighed

talks between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents on a possible

deal to end the war in Ukraine against ​potential oil supply

disruption in the Middle East.

Investors will be watching for Tuesday's release of U.S.

Federal Reserve meeting minutes during an otherwise quiet data

week.

Among other major developments, Prime Minister Mark Carney

announced an additional $2.5 billion of economic aid for Ukraine

during an appearance ​with Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Zelenskiy.

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