dec 16 reuters  futures pointed to a higher opening for canadas main stock index on thursday aided by gains in both crude and gold prices while an upbeat economic outlook from the us federal reserve boosted sentiment december futures on the sptsx index were up 06 at 700 am et oil prices rose supported by record us implied demand and falling crude stockpiles while gold prices were boosted by a fall in the us dollar fed chair jerome powell during his news conference on wednesday struck an upbeat tone about the us economic recovery and expressed willingness to raise interest rates as necessary to control inflation read more domestic wholesale data and manufacturing sales data are due at 830 am et the toronto stock exchanges sptsx composite index gsptse ended 06 higher at 2076916 on wednesday its first higher close since dec 7 dow eminis were up 271 points or 075 at 700 am et sp 500 eminis were up 4175 points or 089 and nasdaq 100 eminis were up 1645 points or 101 a canadian government advisory against traveling abroad due to the omicron variant could lead to further confusion and cancellations ahead of the key holiday travel season the countrys secondlargest carrier said on wednesday canadian imperial bank of commerce and national bank of canada nato said wednesday they have asked staff in canada to work remotely joining bank of nova scotia in halting plans for a return to offices amid growing concerns over the omicron variant read more cineplex inc cgxto cibc raises to outperform from neutral freshlocal solutions inc loclto canaccord genuity cuts to hold from buy manulife financial corp mfcto cibc cuts to underperform from neutral commodities at 700 am et reporting by amal s in bengaluru editing by maju samuel