CANADA STOCKS--TSX may open lower on Italian crisis

Feb 13 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index looked set to open lower on Thursday as a fresh crisis in the Italian government coupled with disappointing European corporate results hit investor sentiment.

TOP STORIES

* Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta faces a showdown with his own centre-left party on Thursday that could lead to his resignation and the appointment of Democratic Party leader Matteo Renzi as head of a new government within days.

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* Canadian plane and train maker Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit due to a fall in gross margin and forecast a slowdown in revenue growth at its rail unit this year. News Search ID:nL3N0LI47O

* Barrick Gold Corp ABX.TO reported a big fourth-quarter loss on Thursday as it took another impairment charge, cut its gold reserve estimate by 26 percent and said a key cost measure might rise this year. News Search ID:nL2N0LI0J9

* Manulife Financial Corp MFC.TO reported a 20 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit as stronger mutual fund sales and a C$350 million gain on the sale of its Taiwan insurance business offset weaker insurance sales, but results still fell short of estimates. News Search ID:nL2N0LI0HG

* Encana Corp ECA.TO , Canada's largest natural gas producer, reported a smaller-than-expected fall in quarterly operating profit as the company ramped up production of liquids such as light oil and condensate. News Search ID:nL3N0LI46A

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MARKET SNAPSHOT

* Canada stock futures 0#SXF: traded down 0.13 percent

* U.S. stock futures 0#SP: , 0#DJ: , 0#ND: were down in the range of 0.44 to 0.59 percent Href="NewsSearch">.N

* European shares .FTEU3 , .STOXX were down Href="NewsSearch">.EU

COMMODITY PRICE MOVES

* Thomson Reuters-Jefferies CRB Index .TRJCRBTR : 291.5127; fell 0.3 percent

* Gold futures GCc1 : $1,291; fell 0.33 percent Href="NewsSearch">GOL/

* US crude CLc1 : $99.82; fell 0.55 percent Href="NewsSearch">O/R

* Brent crude LCOc1 : $108.51; fell 0.26 percent Href="NewsSearch">O/R

* LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $7,113.25; fell 0.58 percent

Href="NewsSearch">MET/L

CANADIAN STOCKS TO WATCH

* Home Capital Group HCG.TO : The mortgage lender said on Wednesday it would split its stock and reported a 17 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit and a 14 percent dividend rise.

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* Kinross Gold Corp K.TO : The miner said on Wednesday that a "rigorous" review of its mine plans led to slashing its gold reserves by a third, even as it reported a narrower fourth-quarter net loss compared to the same period last year.

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* Sun Life Financial Inc SLF.TO : The life insurer reported better-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday, helped by higher assets under management and a C$290 million gain related to the restructuring of internal reinsurance arrangements.

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* Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd AEM.TO : The miner slashed its quarterly dividend to 8 cents per share from 22 cents, saying the reduction reflects current market conditions as gold is trading about $100 per ounce lower than its realized price in 2013. News Search ID:nL3N0LI1B7

* Turquoise Hill Resources TRQ.TO : The company said year to date sales volume from its Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine in Mongolia has fallen short of expectations, citing post-commissioning issues. News Search ID:nL3N0LI1ZL

* Teck Resources Ltd TCKb.TO : The diversified miner reported a 45 percent drop in quarterly adjusted profit, hurt by lower prices of coal and copper. News Search ID:nL3N0LI3LR

* Cenovus Energy Inc CVE.TO : The oil and gas producer reported a smaller fourth-quarter net loss, helped by higher production at its Christina Lake oil sands project in northern Alberta. News Search ID:nL3N0LI47A

ANALYSTS' RECOMMENDATIONS

Following is a summary of research actions on Canadian companies reported by Reuters. Href="NewsSearch">RCH/CA

* Birchcliff Energy Ltd BIR.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$11.75 from C$10.25 based on strong resource growth in the fourth quarter

* Bonterra Energy Corp BNE.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$63 from C$62.50, on the company's strong fourth-quarter production results and solid reserve additions

* FirstService Corp FSV.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$56 from C$50, says the company's fourth-quarter results were strong, with revenues and adjusted EPS beating estimates

* Sun Life Financial Inc SLF.TO : CIBC raises price target to C$40 from C$39 on the company's better-than-expected fourth-quarter results

* Thomson Reuters Corp TRI.TO : CIBC cuts target price to $35 from $37 citing the company's messy fourth-quarter results and weak 2014 outlook

ON THE CALENDAR

* Major Canadian economic data includes new housing PI

ECONCA

* Major U.S. events and data include Initial Claims and Retail Sales

($1= $1.10 Canadian)

(Reporting by Mononshila Deka in Banagalore)

((mononshila.deka@thomsonreuters.com)(91 80 6749 3006)(Reuters)(Messaging:)(mononshila.deka.thomsonreuters.com@re uters.net))

Keywords: MARKETS CANADA/STOCKS