FX.co ★ TSX Futures Up on Middle East De-escalation Hopes

Futures tracking the S&P/TSX Composite Index rose on Friday, supported by signs of a prolonged yet fragile ceasefire in the Middle East. Oil prices eased as Pakistan prepared to host both Iranian and US delegations for talks in its capital, while Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold negotiations in Washington next week. The pullback in oil, coupled with hopes for de-escalation, offered some relief to financial stocks, which have been under pressure from energy-driven inflation. Energy shares, which had recently benefited from surging crude prices, now appear set to pare back some of those gains as oil retreats. By contrast, gold prices inched higher, bolstering mining stocks and putting the metal on course for a weekly advance. Elsewhere, Canada’s unemployment rate held steady at 6.7% in March 2026, unchanged from February and slightly better than market expectations of 6.8%.