Investors are poised at the starting line for Monday’s market opening. Air Canada struck a deal with its pilots’ union yesterday, and the company’s stock is going to be a big mover today. Trading in the airline’s shares were halted on Friday.

Otherwise, investors are awaiting the latest rate announcement from the Bank of Canada. It’s due out Tuesday. Analysts are expecting the central bank to maintain the status quo of 3.25%, due to an easing of inflationary pressures.

South of the border, investors are waiting for the latest index of supply management. So far this morning futures trading is up and foreshadowing a positive opening for equities.

Overseas, the European bourses are up, buoyed by last weeks gains in North America. At midday, London’s FTSE 100 index is up 0.94%. Frankfurt’s DAX has risen 1.39% and Paris’s CAC 40 has gained 0.21% in morning action.

Tokyo’s Nikkei rose 122.66 points, or 1.46%, to 8,547.17 points in overnight trading. Technology companies led the day. Sony, Canon and Kyocera all ended the day higher. It was the Nikkei’s first finish above 8,500 points since late February.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index rose 150.15 points, or 1.6%, to 9,637.53.