Markets are barely ticking over today. The summer doldrums seem to have set in. The Toronto Stock Exchange 300 composite index is up just five points to 7599. Volume is very light, with just 46 million shares traded. Buying volume holds a 10:9 edge on selling, but losers outnumber winners by about 9:8.

Industrials are leading the way higher as traders ferret out a few bargains in the tech sector, but there’s not much upside momentum otherwise. Sellers seem pretty indifferent, too, with only the oil and gas stocks really seeing any sell pressure. Toronto traders must have noticed those sub-60¢ gas prices on the weekend.

Nortel Networks is leading the way higher. ItÕs stock is up better than 2% on 2.4 million shares. Exfo Electro is rebounding, as is AnorMed. Other winners include Roger and Rogers Wireless, Telus, Stantec and Calpine. Bombardier is notably higher too.

The energy stocks are heading down, led by Canada Southern Petroleum, Canadian Hunter, Precision Drilling and Anderson Exploration. Banks are weak, with Bank of Nova Scotia and CIBC active on the downside.

The CDNX is weak, too. ItÕs down eight points to 3176. Volume is more normal there at 17.8 million shares. Unlike the big caps, techs are weak at the CDNX, miners are down a bit, and oils are up. Genoil Inc is the top trader, up 7% to 42¢ on 3.3 million shares.

In New York, trading is similarly lethargic. The Dow Jones industrial average has given up some early gains, and is down 21 points now to 10231. The Nasdaq composite index is up 12 ticks to 2016. The S&P has gained just two points to 1192. Techs are the source of the little strength that exists in U.S. markets, today.