Stock markets are mixed today as investors weigh corporate earnings reports against a possible war with Iraq. At midday, the S&P/TSX composite index is up just 0.89 of a point to 6,691.7.

Higher gold prices are propping upkeep Toronto’s stocks. The gold sector is up 0.8%, while utilities are up 0.3%

Glamis Gold and Agnico-Eagle Mines are both trading higher a midday.

Weaker financial services stocks are weighing on the Toronto market.

In New York, glum news from two big U.S. financials have pushed the Dow Jones industrial average down 33.87 points to 8,409.03.

J.P. Morgan Chase posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss while Merrill Lynch & Co. said it will have trouble maintaining the revenue level it posted during 2002.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq is up 4.39 points at 1,368.64, while the S&P 500 is down0.97 of a point to 886.65.