North American stocks may open lower Tuesday after the U.S. holiday weekend, amid interest-rate fears, dollar weakness and Wal-Mart Stores’ disappointing May sales.

Wal-Mart’s May same-store sales rise came in a lackluster 2.3%– at the low end of company forecasts

In today’s economic news, Statistics Canada said Canada’s current account surplus with the rest of the world, on a seasonally adjusted basis, dropped $2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2006 to $10.7 billion.

The decline was mostly the result of a sharp drop in the value of energy exports, which was very high in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Separately, StatsCan said monthly prices for manufactured goods at the factory gate were up in April, as prices for petroleum and primary metal products increased. Raw materials prices also increased in April, the result of higher prices for crude oil and non-ferrous metals.

The Canadian dollar opened at US90.84¢, up 0.4 of a cent.

U.S. economic data for release Tuesday include May consumer confidence, seen falling to 100.7 from 109.6, and the Chicago purchasing managers index, estimated to slow to 56.1% from 57.2%.

Oil futures were mostly steady, up 10¢ a barrel at US$71.47, while gold futures edged up $2.70 an ounce to US$653.70.

In today’s earnings news, Bombardier Inc. said its first-quarter profit declined to US$24 million from a year-earlier US$55 million as revenue slipped.

Overseas, Japanese stocks fell for a second day on disappointing consumer spending and industrial production data.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 56.23 points, or 0.35%, to finish at 15,859.45 points on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, after falling 0.34% Monday.

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index fell 105.88 points, or 0.66%, to 15,857.89.

Toronto stocks posted solid gains for a third consecutive session on Monday.

Energy, gold and mining stocks again led the way as investors continued to pick up shares beaten down in price during a two-week long correction.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 82.73 points to 11,845.48 on lighter-than-usual volume.

Bank of Nova Scotia shares were 75¢ higher to $43.65 after the bank handed in a second-quarter profit of $894 million, up 8% from a year ago. The bank also boosted its quarterly dividend by 3¢ a common share, from 39¢.

The TSX Venture Exchange rose 23.44 points to 2,863.63.

U.S. markets were closed for the Memorial Day holiday.