Futures Little Changed Wednesday

Futures linked to equities in Canada were nearly flat on Wednesday as investors exercised caution ahead of a crucial U.S. inflation report and weighed the latest developments from U.S.-China trade talks. The TSX Composite Index climbed 50.51 points to close Tuesday at 26,426.31. Futures were down 0.1% Wednesday. The Canadian dollar dipped 0.07 cents to 73.08 cents U.S. In corporate news, WSP Global said on Wednesday that it would acquire British environmental and engineering consulting firm Ricardo for about 363.1 million pounds ($489.6 million U.S.) including debt.Late on Tuesday, U.S. and Chinese officials ended two days of trade negotiations in London with pledges to revive an agreement struck last month in Geneva and remove China's export restrictions on rare earths - a sticking point in that deal.The new agreement will be taken back to the leaders of the two countries for approval.In the economic arena, Statistics Canada said in April, the total value of building permits issued in Canada decreased by $829.6 million (-6.6%) to $11.7 billion.ON BAYSTREET The TSX Venture Exchange sank 8.6 points, or 1.2%, Tuesday to 717.30. ON WALLSTREET Stock futures moved lower Wednesday after China and the U.S. reached a trade policy consensus. Investors also awaited the release of May’s consumer inflation report.Futures for the Dow Jones Industrials let go of 95 points, or 0.2%, to 42,816.Futures for the S&P 500 index moved lower 10 points, or 0.2%, to 6,035.Futures for the NASDAQ gave up 40.25 points, or 0.2%, to 21,922.25.U.S. and Chinese officials reached a consensus on trade after a second day of talks in London. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will return to Washington to “make sure President Trump approves” the deal outline.As part of the framework, China would approve the exports of rare earth minerals. Meanwhile, the U.S. would roll back sales restrictions of advanced tech goods to China.Investors will get further insight into the U.S. economy on Wednesday morning as the Bureau of Labor Statistics rolls out May’s reading of the consumer price index. Economists polled by Dow Jones call for a 0.2% month-over-month increase, while headline CPI is anticipated to have grown 2.4% from 12 months earlier. A hot report could spook investors who are already on edge over inflationary pressures.Bank of America reported this morning that GE Vernova share prices should rise on the back of U.S. electrical load growth.In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index gained 0.6% Wednesday, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng picked up 0.8% Oil prices added 96 cents to $65.94 U.S. a barrel. Gold prices ballooned $11.50 to $3,354.90 U.S. an ounce.