CANADA STOCKS-TSX may open lower, U.S. data in focus

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index futures pointed to a flat to slightly lower open on Friday with investors waiting to take cues from a slew of U.S. economic data including housing starts, building permits and industrial production.

TOP STORIES

* General Electric Co posted a rise in quarterly net profit, helped by strength in its businesses selling oil pumps and jet engines. News Search ID:nL2N0KR0GT

* Morgan Stanley reported a sharp fall in quarterly profit as the Wall Street bank was hit by $1.2 billion in legal bills but adjusted earnings beat market estimates. News Search ID:nL3N0KR3NE

* Royal Dutch Shell issued a "significant" profit warning, detailing across-the-board problems and the extent of the challenges facing the oil major's new boss Ben van Beurden, who took over two weeks ago. News Search ID:nL5N0KR0H3

* Schlumberger Ltd, the world's largest oilfield services company, reported a better-than-expected 22 percent jump in fourth-quarter profit as robust international drilling activity made up for weakness in North America. News Search ID:nL3N0KR3DL

* Intel Corp's earnings missed expectations by a penny in the fourth quarter due to weak spending on servers, and the chipmaker gave a lukewarm forecast for first-quarter revenue that did little to dispel concerns about a slowing PC industry.

News Search ID:nL2N0KQ241

* BNY Mellon Corp said that its fourth-quarter profit rose slightly as investment services fees increased 5 percent amid a buoyant stock market. News Search ID:nL2N0KR0GP

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MARKET SNAPSHOT

* Canada stock futures 0#SXF: traded down 0.03 percent

* U.S. stock futures 0#SP: , 0#DJ: , 0#ND: were up around 0.11 percent to 0.34 percent Href="NewsSearch">.N

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

COMMODITY PRICE MOVES

* Thomson Reuters-Jefferies CRB Index .TRJCRBTR : 278.9367; fell 0.03 percent

* Gold futures GCc1 : $1,239.7; fell 0.02 percent Href="NewsSearch">GOL/

* US crude CLc1 : $94.64; rose 0.73 percent Href="NewsSearch">O/R

* Brent crude LCOc1 : $106.31; rose 0.53 percent Href="NewsSearch">O/R

* LME 3-month copper CMCU3 : $7,357; rose 0.64 percent

Href="NewsSearch">MET/L

CANADIAN STOCKS TO WATCH

* Bombardier Inc BBDb.TO : The company said a group led by its rail technology unit has signed a $4.1 billion contract with the Australian state of Queensland. News Search ID:nL3N0KR3D1

* Dollarama Inc DOL.TO : The dollar-store operator said December sales were hurt by severe winter weather and power outages. News Search ID:nL3N0KR3P4

* Saputo Inc SAP.TO : The company said on Friday its shareholding in Australia's Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Holdings Co has jumped to 46.17 percent, putting it close to majority control. News Search ID:nL3N0KQ59Q

ANALYSTS' RECOMMENDATIONS

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

* Alamos Gold Inc AGI.TO : CIBC cuts target price to C$15 from C$17 citing the company's reduced fourth-quarter production figures

* Oryx Petroleum Corporation Ltd OXC.TO : RBC raises to outperform from sector perform with target price to C$18 from C$17, given the company's regional exposure in Kurdistan, exploration-led strategy and financing requirements

* Saputo Inc SAP.TO : CIBC raises target price to C$53 from C$50, says acquisition of Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Holdings Co has strong strategic merits, and would give the company a platform to grow its exports to Asia

* Sierra Wireless Inc SW.TO : Jefferies raises target to $20 from $16.75, believes management will be more focused on cost controls, likes the improved operating model and stability of M2M

ON THE CALENDAR

* No major Canadian economic data scheduled for release

ECONCA

* Major U.S. events and data includes housing starts, building permits, industrial production and University of Michigan sentiment index

($1= $1.09 Canadian)

(Reporting by Ayesha Sruti Ahmed in Bangalore; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

((ayeshasruti.ahmed@thomsonreuters.com)(91 80 6749 4811)(Reuters Messaging:)(ayeshasruti.ahmed.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: MARKETS CANADA/STOCKS