December futures on the S&P/TSX index were up 0.2% at 7:15 a.m. ET (11:15 GMT).

Materials stocks are expected to get a boost from copper prices edging upward on a weaker dollar, while gold drifted lower. Still, demand remained crucial for the safe-haven asset over the potential escalation of conflict in the Middle East. [MET/L] [GOL/]

Oil prices also steadied above $90 a barrel as the war between Islamist group Hamas and Israel continued to be one of the most significant geopolitical risks to oil markets. Investors will watch out for any extreme moves in energy stocks. [O/R]

All eyes will be on the results from major U.S. companies - includingh banks Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, electric automaker Tesla and video-streaming pioneer Netflix - through the week.

Housing starts and consumer inflation data from Canada will be on investor radar, along with U.S. September retail sales and the October Philly Fed Business Index.

Philadelphia Federal Reserve President Patrick Harker is also set to speak during the day, while Fed Chair Jerome Powell will give his remarks later in the week that could offer clues on the central bank's interest rates path.

The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX composite index down 37.38 points, or 0.2%, at 19,462.86 on Friday. [.TO]

Futures for Wall Street's main indexes also edged higher on Monday. [.N]

In corporate news, Canada's LOGISTEC Corp entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Blue Wolf Capital Partners for $67/ share.

COMMODITIES AT 7:15 a.m. ET

Gold futures: $1,920.6; -0.6% [GOL/]

US crude: $87.73; +0.1% [O/R]

Brent crude: $90.77; -0.1% [O/R]

FOR CANADIAN MARKETS NEWS, CLICK ON CODES:

TSX market report [.TO]

Canadian dollar and bonds report [CAD/] [CA/]

Reuters global stocks poll for Canada

Canadian markets directory

($1= C$1.3637)

(Reporting by Khushi Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)