Stocks are headed for a flat start Tuesday morning, with oil prices creeping higher and traders wait for earnings reports from Canada’s big banks, which are due to start reporting results this week.

In this morning’s economic news, Statistics Canada reported that the the leading indicator posted a 0.3% gain in July, the same as in June and little changed since the start of the year.

Later this morning, the National Association of Realtors is due to release data on existing home sales in the United States. Economists are anticipating a 0.6% increase in existing home sales for July.

Crude-oil prices rose 20¢ to US65.85 a barrel in early trading Tuesday amid lingering global supply concerns. The increase came amid expectations that Wednesday’s U.S. petroleum inventories will show declines in crude and gasoline stocks with little indication that high prices are slowing demand.

In earnings news, Bank of Montreal is the first of the big six banks to report results, due later today.

Overnight in Asia, the Japanese Nikkei 225 index rose 20.42 points, or 0.16%, to 12,472.93 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index fell 244.74 points, or 1.61%, to 14,973.89.

Toronto stocks finished with modest gains Monday, as major M&A news overcame a poor day among financial stocks. The S&P/TSX composite index rose 23.38 points, or 0.22%, to close 10,525.49.

The energy sector gained 0.96%.

Shares of Calgary-based oil company PetroKazakhstan Inc. gained $8.35, or 18.39%, to $53.75 after the company approved a US$4.18-billion takeover offer from a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp.

Research in Motion shares closed up $4.50, or 5.1%, at $93.09. According to a business television report, Research in Motion, makers of the Blackberry, agreed to a joint development deal with Intel Corp

CP Ships Ltd surged $1.85, or 7.84%, to $25.45 after the firm announced a $2.4 billion takeover offer from German company TUI AG.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index finished up 10.34 points, or 0.74%, to $85.25.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 10.66, or 0.1%, at 10,569.89, after lifting almost 82 points in early trading. The S&P500 index gained 2.02, or 0.17%, to 1,221,73, while the Nasdaq composite index advanced 5.85, or 0.27%, to 2,141.41.