CANADA STOCKS-TSX futures edge higher ahead of US PMI figures

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Futures linked to Canada's main stock index edged higher on Friday, as investors awaited key economic data from both Canada and the United States.

By 6:24 a.m. ET (11:24 GMT), March futures on the S&P/TSX index SXFcv1 were relatively stable.

Investors are anticipating the preliminary February economic activity surveys from S&P Global, scheduled for release at 9:45 a.m. ET, followed by the final consumer sentiment reading from the University of Michigan at 10 a.m. ET.

Meanwhile, Canadian retail sales data for December is expected at 8:30 a.m. ET. Additionally, a speech by Tiff Macklem, the Governor of the Bank of Canada, is slated for 12:45 p.m. ET.

The S&P/TSX Composite index .GSPTSE declined 0.44% on Thursday, shedding 113.24 points to close at 25,513.61 and relinquishing most of the gains accumulated earlier in the week.

Nonetheless, the index was still on track for a modest 0.1% weekly gain.

Gold XAU= dipped 0.4%, pulling back from its record highs.

However, it was on its upward trajectory for an eighth straight week, buoyed by safe-haven demand amid ongoing concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and the negotiations for a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have underscored the importance of including Kyiv in any peace talks aimed at ending the war with Russia.

Oil prices noted a slight decline but were set for a weekly increase due to worries about potential supply disruptions in Russia.

For the week, the healthcare sector .GSPTTHC was on course to be the standout performer, with an impressive 4.3% gain, whereas the technology sector .SPTTTK faced challenges, losing 2.9% and set to emerge as the week's weakest performer.

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