North American markets are expected to idle at Tuesday’s open, as traders await quarterly results from tech bellwether Cisco Systems later today.

Cisco’s results often influence trading in other technology shares.

In economic news, crude-oil prices continued to ease early Tuesday, slipping 41¢ to US$44.87 a barrel.

In earnings news. Alcan reported a fourth-quarter loss of US$538 million after posting big one-time charges, including US$346 million related to the acquisition of Europe’s Pechiney group.

Financial services holding company Kingsway International Holdings said its second-quarter profit climbed to US$6.3 million from US$1.0 million a year ago.

Toronto stocks extended their rally on Monday, getting a lift from the heavily weighted financial services group. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 13.61 points, or 0.15%, at 9,371.89.

Volume was 269 million shares.

Financial issues led the way on Monday, rising 1.36%, as all six of the country’s big banks climbed, with several notching more than 2% gains.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index dropped 4.24 points, or 0.23%, to close at 1,823.16.

In New York, U.S. stocks ended slightly lower on Monday as market activity slowed amid a light schedule of corporate and economic news.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.37 of a point at 10,715.76. The S&P 500 Index was down 1.31 points, or 0.11%, at 1,201.72. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was down 4.63 points, or 0.22%, at 2,080.03.