North American markets are set to open higher amid positive indicators and ahead of key economic data.

A Canadian GDP report is due out this morning, as are U.S. data on personal spending and income, consumer confidence and manufacturing. The Dow could end the third quarter at a record high.

Wall Street futures were up early this morning. Asian and European markets rose and the price of oil dropped.

The Nikkei 225 index gained 102.73 points to 16,127.58, while the Hang Seng index rose 12.48 points to 17,543.05.

The Canadian dollar opened at US89.77¢, down 0.26 of a cent.

On Thursday, North American stocks closed higher as investor optimism on both sides of the border drove the major indices higher for the fourth straight session.

The S&P/TSX composite index moved up 65.86, or 0.56%, to 11,817.44.

Seven of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were up.

The energy index gained 0.90% despite lower oil prices. Light, sweet crude for November delivery closed down 20¢ at $62.76 a barrel.

The materials index fell 0.15% and the gold index was down 1.07%, despite higher bullion prices. The December futures contract for gold closed up $7.60 at US$610.90 an ounce.

The financials sector gained 0.93%. National Bank of Canada gained 43¢, or 0.70%, to $61.47.

The information technology index lost 0.57%. Research in Motion fell 69¢, or 0.72%, to $95.30.

The Canadian dollar closed up US$0.05¢ to US$90.03¢.

The S&P/TSX Venture Exchange index gained 10.75, or 0.44%, to 2,466.05.

In New York, lower oil prices and strong earnings reports spurred the market upward.

The Dow industrials index rose 29.21 points to end at 11,718.45, approximately 4.5 points off its all time record high six-and-a-half years ago. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed up 6.63 points at 2,270.02 while the S&P 500 Index gained 2.56 points to close at 1,339.15.