Toronto stocks are lower Friday as investors lock in profits and ignore the day’s positive economic reports.The S&P TSX composite index is down 69.87 points to 7,722.93.

U.S. consumer confidence improved in October, as measured by the University of Michigan’s mid-month index of consumer sentiment. The index rose to 89.4 in October, beating economists’ forecasts of a rise to 88.0.

U.S. housing data for September was also positive.

The TSX information technology sector is off 1.7% and the heavily weighted financial services index is down 0.4%.

Tech bellwether Nortel Networks is off 2%, while Open Text is down nearly 1%.

In earnings news, Rogers Communications posted an 11% increase in revenues as it cut its third-quarter loss to $17.4 million. Rogers shares are up 13% to $20.

Shares of Zarlink Semiconductor got beat up in Friday morning trading, after the company reported a Q2 loss said its current quarter revenues will be flat. The stock is off 20%, dropping $1.09 cents to $4.26.

In other business news, Camco will close its Hamilton, Ont., appliance manufacturing and warehouse facility in Dec. 2004, putting 800 people out of work. Camco shares have plunged 40% to $1.32.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index is down 8.89 points to 1,427.99.

U.S. stocks are down in heavy trading as investors lock in gains. Investors appeared to wave off upbeat housing and consumer confidence data released early in the day.

The Dow Jones industrial average is off 40.14 points to 9,751.58.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index is down 26.96 points to 1,923.18. The broader S&P 500 is down 7.24 points to 1,042.83.

The Canadian dollar rose above the US76¢ level again this morning. It’s currently trading at US76.23¢, up from US75.87¢, at the previous session close.