Canada Stocks-Toronto futures tick up on earnings boost; Mideast tensions linger

• Oil prices edged up 0.2% as escalating attacks between the United States and Iran disrupted oil flows through key shipping routes. O/R
• Vermilion Energy VET.TO and Kinross Gold K.TO posted higher second-quarter profits amid a flurry of earnings releases from energy and mining companies late Wednesday.
• Investors now await quarterly earnings reports from Eldorado Gold and Baytex Energy, among others, due after the bell.
• Gold prices were marginally higher on Thursday as markets assessed the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to keep interest rates unchanged, as well as a potential resurgence in inflation as the Middle East conflict lingers.
• Spot gold XAU= gained 0.3%, while silver XAG= gained 0.2%.GOL/
• Separately, minutes from the Bank of Canada's July 15 meeting released on Wednesday showed that governors were split over the sustainability of the economic recovery.
• The BoC left interest rates unchanged at its last meeting and predicted the economy would grow by 2.5% on an annual basis in the second quarter after grinding to a halt in the first quarter.
• Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday played down the idea of curbing oil supplies to the United States to gain leverage in a trade war, saying that would harm Canada's reputation.

July 30 (Reuters) - Futures tracking Canada's stock index ticked higher on Thursday as strong earnings from energy and mining companies lifted sentiment, while lingering Middle East tensions continued to support commodity prices.

September futures tracking the S&P/TSX Composite index SXFc1 were up 0.3% at 6:40 a.m. ET. The main index .GSPTSE closed down 1.2% on Wednesday.