North American stocks look poised to open higher, one day after the Toronto Stock Exchange closed at a record high.

Trading is likely to be muted hovever as some traders leave early for U.S. Thanksgiving.

U.S. bond markets close early, at 14:00, in advance of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

In today’s economic news, Statistics Canada reported that the annual inflation rate crept up to 0.9% in October, from 0.7% in September, as lower prices for gasoline and heating fuels mostly offset other cost increases.

The Canadian dollar opened at US87.46¢, up 0.18 of a cent.

South of the border, the U.S. Labor Department said jobless claims rose by 12,000 to 321,000 in the week ended Nov. 18. Economists predicted an increase of just 2,000 last week.

A final reading of U.S. consumer sentiment for November is also due today.

In earnings news, Dell Inc. beat analysts’ expectations in delayed earnings posted Tuesday, but the computer maker warned the results were preliminary and could change due to an intensifying U.S. investigation into the company’s accounting and financial reporting.

In other news, Alcoa Inc. said it will cut 6,700 jobs worldwide over the next year and create a joint venture with a Norwegian company in a restructuring that will boost corporate profits by cutting costs,.

Crude-oil prices slipped 23¢ to US$59.94 a barrel after Tuesday’s run-up. Weekly energy inventory data are scheduled for release later today.

Overseas, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 180.09 points, or 1.14%, to finish at 15,914.23 points on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng index rose 1.3% to 19,250.79.

The German DAX 30 rose 0.3%, and the United Kingdom’s FTSE Index rose 0.03%.

Toronto stocks hit an all-time record high Tuesday, on higher commodity prices and hopes for mergers and acquisitions in the resource sectors.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 185.67 points, or 1.50%, to 12,602.67, bursting through the previous record of 12,487 set in April.

All 10 TSX main indices were up, with the energy group up 2.09% and the materials index up 3.01%.

The S&P TSX Venture composite index gained 33.39 points, or 1.27%, to 2,633.89.

In New York, markets moved up, but just marginally, as good corporate earnings news were largely offset by higher energy prices.

The Dow Jones industrial average nudged ahead 5.05 points, or 0.04%, to 12,321.59, the Nasdaq composite index lifted 2.12, or 0.09%, to 2,454.84, and the S&P 500 gained 2.31, or 0.16%, to 1,402.81.