Toronto: Canadian stock futures posted strong gains on Wednesday, driven by investor optimism over potential U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts and a surge in precious metal prices. Futures for the S&P/TSX index advanced 0.7% in early trading, reflecting renewed confidence across key sectors.

The boost followed dovish-leaning remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who left the door open for further interest rate reductions. Markets interpreted his comments as a signal that a 25-basis-point cut could be on the horizon, fueling enthusiasm among investors for rate-sensitive sectors.

Rising precious metal prices provided additional support to the markets. Gold surged past the $4,200-per-ounce mark for the first time, while silver climbed 3% to $53.60 per ounce, building on its previ

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