march 3 reuters  futures for canadas commodityheavy stock index rose on friday as a rise in gold prices and hopes of a pause in monetary tightening aided investor sentiment march futures on the sptsx index were up 03 at 712 am et the toronto stock exchanges sptsx composite index gsptse closed at its highest in nearly two weeks on thursday underpinned by gains in technology and industrial shares canadas independent budgetary watchdog forecast that the bank of canada will hold rates at the current level of 45 till the yearend and will start cutting rates in january 2024 making the first major central bank to say it would likely pause monetary tightening gold prices climbed to their highest in two weeks as a softer dollar made bullion cheaper for holders of other currencies among stocks equinor eqnrol said it would acquire the british oil and gas business of canadas suncor energy suto for 850 million meanwhile data showed home prices in the greater toronto area gta rose in february from the previous month but were down sharply on an annual basis as borrowing costs climbed investors now await january monthly building permits data later in the day which is expected to rise 15 from a decline of 73 in the previous month dow eminis were up 95 points or 029 at 712 am et while sp 500 eminis were up 1675 points or 042 and nasdaq 100 eminis were up 585 points or 048 commodities at 700 am et reporting by johann m cherian in bengaluru editing by shilpi majumdar