North American markets may open mixed Wednesday amid a rise in crude oil prices ahead of U.S. weekly inventory data.

Oil prices climbed 72¢ to US$60.66 a barrel in early trading Wednesday amid expectations that cold weather in the U.S. Northeast will boost demand for heating fuels. A weekly U.S. inventory report due later today is expected to show a decline in crude-oil inventories and a rise in gasoline supplies.

Meanwhile, gold prices hit a 24-year high of US$516 an ounce early Wednesday

The Canadian dollar opened at US86.04¢ down 0.38 of a cent, after hitting new 14-year highs on Monday and Tuesday.

In today’s earnings news, GMP Capital, which completed its conversion into an income trust last week, says its third-quarter profit jumped 82% to $15.8 million.

In other news, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday it will charge Canadian softwood companies duties averaging 10.81% on imports, about half of what they’ve been paying.

Arc Energy Trust has acquired two major oilfields in central Alberta owned by Imperial Oil and its sister company in a deal valued at about $480 million.

Microsoft Corp. plans to invest US$1.7 billionin India and add 3,000 jobs in the country over the next four years.

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rebounded from Tuesday’s losses to end 0.4% higher at 15,484.66.

European markets saw tepid gains, with London’s FTSE 100 adding 0.4% recently.

Toronto stocks hit a five-year high Tuesday, powered ahead by gains in resource issues and seemingly unaffected by the Bank of Canada’s decision to raise its key rate.

The S&P/TSX composite index finished up 88.04, or 0.80%, to 11,096.82.

The central bank raised its key overnight rate 0.25% to 3.25% and suggested more rate increases were coming.

The S&P/TSX Venture Exchange index finished up 4.46 points, or 0.21%, to 2,093.27.

In New York, a boost in U.S. productivity numbers fuelled markets in the morning, but those gains were largely clawed back in the afternoon.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 21.85 points , or 0.2%, to 10,856.86 after being up 101 points in earlier trading, The S&P500 index added 1.61, or 0.13%, to 1,263.70, and the Nasdaq composite index rose 3.12 points , or 0.14%, to 2,260.76.