North American stocks may open lower Friday after earnings misses from Google and Ericsson.

Google reported quarterly profit growth of 28%, but didn’t meet Wall Street’s expectations. Revenue jumped 57%.

Telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson reported a less-than-forecast 12% profit rise, as European demand faltered.

Meanwhile, software giant Microsoft reported a 7% profit rise — in line with expectations — and raised its guidance.

After two days of testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, the U.S. economic calendar peters out, and there are no major economic releases from Statistics Canada today.

The Canadian dollar opened at US95.8, down 0.01 of a cent.

In this morning’s earnings news, Citigroup said its quarterly profit rose 18%, boosted by growth in its booming investment bank and wealth-management unit. Revenue at the world’s biggest bank grew 20%.

Wachovia posted a 24% jump in second-quarter profit as its acquisition of Golden West Financial boosted revenue, though the bank’s loan-loss provision more than tripled.

Caterpillar’s profit fell 21% in the second quarter, due to lower sales of truck engines and continued weakness in the North American construction market.

Whirlpool reported a stronger-than-forecast 77% profit rise on the back of international sales.

Crude-oil futures rose 6¢ to US$75.98 a barrel in electronic trading.

Overseas, China’s central bank raised interest rates Friday for the fifth time in 15 months, but analysts said more tightening will be needed to curb rampant growth in the world’s fastest-growing economy and fight uncomfortably high inflation.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.1% in afternoon trade in London, while the Nikkei 225 edged up 0.2% in Tokyo.

On Thursday, Toronto stocks moved higher setting a fresh record high close on the strength of higher oil and gold prices.

The S&P/TSX composite index gained 42.10 points, or 0.29%, to 14,325.76.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index moved up 25.65 points, or 0.78%, to 3,318.99.

In New York, markets were up on strong earnings reports.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 82.19 points, or 0.59%, to 14,000.41, setting a record high and breaking the 14,000-point barrier for the first time in history.

The S&P 500 was up 6.91 points, or 0.45%, to finish at 1,553.08. The Nasdaq composite index was up 20.55 points, or 0.76%, to close at 2,720.04, after earlier hitting 2,724.74, its highest in six-and-a-half years.