U.S. stocks were poised open lower Monday ahead of data that is likely to show another month of slumping auto sales.

A dismal slate of auto sales data is due for release today, with U.S. sales during December expected to drop by around 40%.

There are no major economic releases from Statistics Canada today.

The Canadian dollar traded up 0.18 of a cent at US82.44¢.

In commodities news, crude-oil futures added 65¢ to $46.99 a barrel.

Stocks overseas were generally stronger, with the Japanese Nikkei 225 up 183.56 points, or 2.1%, to 9,043.12, its first finish above the 9,000-point line since Nov. 10.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 3.5% to 15,563.31

Gains in Europe were smaller. The UK’s FTSE 100 rose 0.4 %, Germany’s DAX advanced 0.8 % and France’s CAC 40 added 0.4 %.

On Friday, the benchmark index of the Toronto Stock Exchange jumped 2.7% higher, driven by gains in the energy sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index rose 246.41 points, or 2.74%, to close at 9,234.11 points.

All but one of the 10 TSX main sectors ended higher, led by the energy group, which surged 6.3%.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index soared 49.67 points, or 6.23%, to 846.69.

The Canadian dollar edged up 0.16 of a cent to US82.26¢.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 258.3 points, or 2.94%, to 9,034.69.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 55.18 points, or 3.5%, to 1,632.21, while the S&P 500 added 28.55 points, or 3.16%, to 931.8.

For the week, the Dow was up 6.1%, the S&P 500 gained 6.8% and the Nasdaq rose 6.7%.

IE