TSX set to open higher; factory sales beat estimates

(Reuters) - Canada's main stock index was poised for a higher start on Friday as the country's factory sales in December came higher than analysts' expectations. March futures on the S&P TSX index were up 0.36 percent at 8.30 a.m. ET. Canadian factory sales in December rose by a higher-than-expected 1.7 percent from November as a drop in the sale of petroleum and coal products was offset by gains in transportation equipment, machinery and food sales, Statistics Canada data ind