CANADA STOCKS-TSX futures edge higher as Trump signals US may exit Iran war soon

April 1 (Reuters) - Futures tracking Canada's resource-heavy stock index edged higher on Wednesday, as global markets rallied after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated there may be a swift resolution to the Middle East conflict, though gains were limited by falling oil prices.

June futures on the S&P/TSX Composite Index SXFcv1 were up 0.4% as of 5:54 a.m. ET.

• On Tuesday, Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the conflict with Iran may be nearing an end, hinting at the possibility of direct engagement with Iranian leaders and a de-escalation of hostilities even without a formal agreement.

• The White House said Trump would address the nation "to provide an important update on Iran" at 9 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.

• Oil prices, which had rallied sharply since the conflict began, fell about 3%, keeping the energy sector .SPTTEN in focus. O/R

• Gold extended its climb on Wednesday, rising to a near-two-week high as the dollar softened following Trump's de-escalation signals. GOL/

• The conflict has renewed fears of an inflation shock, prompting central banks, including the Bank of Canada, to reassess policy as markets price in nearly two rate hikes by the end of the year.

• The TSX index .GSPTSE logged a 4.6% drop in March, its steepest monthly fall since May 2023. Even so, it ended the first quarter up 3.3%, extending its run of quarterly gains to seven.

• Meanwhile, Canada's Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is set to travel to China this week for a visit aimed at strengthening strategic and economic ties.

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