Global indicators for stocks were mixed Thursday as oil prices edged higher.

Light sweet crude for January delivery rose 1¢ to US$97.30 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midday in Europe.

Trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange is expected to be light with Wall Street markets closed for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

In today’s economic news, operating profits of Canadian corporations increased 5.8% to a record $67 billion in the third quarter, Statistics Canada reported.

Most of the gain came from banks, oil and gas, motor vehicle and parts manufacturing and telecommunications companies, StatsCan said.

The Canadian dollar opened at US$1.0142, up almost a fifth of a cent after dropping nearly three-quarters of a U.S. cent on Wednesday.

European indexes rose in early trading but most Asian markets fell.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index sank 2.3% to 26,004 after earlier rising as much as 1.4%. Analysts said some investors held back because of the U.S. holiday.

In Europe, the UK’ FTSE 100 Index inched up 0.2% to 6,084.50, the German DAX 30 Index slipped 0.2% to 7,505.32. The French CAC-40 index gained 0.2% to 5,393.64.

In M&A news, sporting goods retailer Forzani Group plans to acquire Toronto-based Athletes World Ltd., a national chain of 138 stores that is restructuring under bankruptcy protection. Forzani made the announcement after markets closed on Wednesday.

Toronto stocks fell sharply again on Wednesday, led by drops in financial and resource issues.

The S&P/TSX composite index plunged 179.19 points, or 1.33%, to 13,280.58.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index fell 69.95 points, or 2.44%, to 2,800.96.

In New York, U.S. stocks plummeted on concerns that trouble in the housing market could worsen, unnerving investors as they headed into the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 211.10 points, or 1.62%, to end at 12,799.04. The S&P 500 was down 22.93 points, or 1.59%, at 1,416.77. The Nasdaq composite index was down 34.66 points, or 1.33%, to close at 2,562.15.