CANADA STOCKS-Fresh bank earnings lift TSX futures

Dec 4 (Reuters) - Canada stock futures inched up on Thursday, as more lenders reported a rise in quarterly profit, pointing to a healthy banking sector as well as a resilient economy.

Futures tracking the S&P/TSX SXFcv1 were up 0.12% by 06:54 a.m. ET.

Toronto's main stock index .GSPTSE had risen 0.4% on Wednesday, snapping two days of losses as higher oil prices buoyed energy stocks while both Royal Bank of Canada RY.TO and National Bank of Canada NA.TO topped profit estimates.

On Thursday, CIBC CM.TO reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit helped by strength in its capital markets division.

Bank of Montreal BMO.TO and TD Bank TD.TO also reported a rise in quarterly profits.

Shares of the big six Canadian banks have outperformed the TSX so far this year as the lenders bet on fee-based, high-margin businesses to drive expansion at a time loan growth in personal and commercial banking segments has stalled due to economic uncertainty.

Investor mood in recent days has been buoyed by expectations for a U.S. interest rate cut next week, further supported by ADP's data showing private payrolls unexpectedly declined in November.

Traders now expect an 87% probability of a December rate cut, up from 83% a week ago, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool.

Gold XAU= fell as gains in equity markets weighed on safe-haven demand, while oil LCOc1, CLc1 rose after Ukrainian attacks on Russia's oil infrastructure signaled potential supply constraints.

In other news, U.S. President Donald Trump could decide next year to withdraw from the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), Politico reported, citing U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Logistics software firm Descartes DSG.TO beat analyst estimates of third-quarter revenue.

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