Futures tracking Canadian equities inched higher on Friday, supported by a constructive backdrop for banking and mining stocks as softer oil prices and gains in precious metals underpinned the market. Crude declined following reports that the United States and Iran were discussing a potential agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. The retreat in oil prices provided some relief to credit-sensitive sectors that have been pressured by energy-driven inflation worries. Global bond yields, after surging over the previous two sessions, trimmed some of their gains but remained elevated. Meanwhile, gold prices advanced, bolstering mining shares, and the technology sector was poised for weekly gains, mirroring Wall Street’s AI-driven optimism.