Global indicators for stocks are mostly negative Thursday as U.S. stock futures fell and the greenback hit fresh lows against the euro.

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England left their benchmark interest rates unchanged. The central banks’ stand-pat decisions had been widely expected.

Here at home, the value of building permits in January fell below the $6 billion mark for the first time since April 200, Statistics Canada reported today. An increase in the non-residential sector was insufficient to compensate for fewer construction intentions in the residential area.

The Canadian dollar opened at US101.53¢, up 0.10 cent.

In M&A news, Western Financial Group is moving to take over Community Savings & Credit Union of Red Deer, described as the second-largest credit union in Alberta with assets of $2.72 billion.

In market news, retail giant Wl-Mart Stores Inc. said its February sales at stores open at least a year rose a stronger-than-expected 2.6% excluding fuel sales.

Crude oil hit a record US$105.10 a barrel overnight as the American dollar continued weakening a day after a reported drop in U.S. crude inventories and OPEC’s decision not to increase production.

Gold also rose against the weakening U.S. dollar, trading in London at US$986.26 per troy ounce, up from US$984.45 late Wednesday.

Overseas,

Toronto stocks were lifted by resource and energy stocks issues Wednesday, as the financials sector continued to struggle.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 126.51 points, or 0.94%, at 13,603.32.


The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index closed up 51.31 points, or 1.86%, at 2,803.34.

The Canadian dollar closed at US$1.01 today.

In New York, stocks struggled to remain in the black after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s weak beige book summary and news that bond insurer Ambac Financial Group plans to sell US$1.5 billion in stock.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 41.19 points, or 0.34%, to 12,254.99.

The S&P 500 ended the session up 6.95 points, or 0.52%, at 1,333.70. and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 12.53 points, or 0.55%, to 2,272.81.