Toronto stocks were higher Monday as Eastman Kodak’s US$980 million takeover offer for printing technology firm Creo helped lift technology issues. At midday, the S&P/TSX composite index was up 17.89 points, or 0.2%, at 9,159.67.

Volume was 116.7 million shares.

Eight of the TSX index’s main groups were higher, led by a 1.7% boost in technology stocks and a 1.26% climb in industrial issues.

Creo gained $2.32, or 12.97%, to $20.21 on news that Kodak said it would buy the firm for about $980 million in cash.

Other technology companies gaining ground were Research In Motion, which added $1.11, or 1.27%, to $88.20, and Leitch Technology , which was up 33¢, or 4.15%, at $8.29.

Weakening gold-mining and energy stocks tempered the gains.

The gold-mining index, which is a part of the materials index, fell 1% as the bullion price in Europe dropped as low as US$419.75, while energy stocks slid 0.3% as the price of U.S. crude dropped 38 cents to US$46.80 a barrel.

Barrick Gold slipped 39¢, or 1.42%, to $27.14, while CHC Helicopter dropped 62¢, or 1.16%, to $52.88.

CHC said on Monday that Talisman Energy’s United Kingdom division would not be renewing a $22 million per year contract for two aircraft.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index was off 15.35, points or 0.85%, at 1,794.14.

The Canadian dollar was trading at US80.65¢ at midday on Monday.

In New York, U.S. stocks got a boost froma slew of corporate merger deals.

Marsh & McLennan Cos. rose 4.3% to $32.43 after the company said it will pay US$850 million to settle charges with the New York Attorney General’s office that it conspired with insurers to rig bids.

In merger news, life insurer MetLife Inc. said it will buy Citigroup Inc.’s Travelers Life and Annuity Co. for US$11.5 billion. Citigroup rose 1.6% to US$49.13, while MetLife fell 15¢ to US$39.79.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 60.96 points, or 0.58%, at 10,488.16. The S&P 500 Index was up 8.09 points, or 0.69%, at 1,179.45. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was up 23.01 points, or 1.13%, at 2,058.84.

In other merger action, SBC Communications said it would buy AT&T for about US$16 billion. AT&T shares fell 2.9% to US$19.14 as SBC’s offer price came below the company’s recent trading price.