Stocks may open mixed Friday as investors digest data on Canadian retails sales and earnings reports from Penn West Energy and Rogers Communications.

Retail sales rose by 0.6% in December to an estimated $35.1 billion on the strength of sales by new car dealers. This was the third increase in retail sales in four months and helped make 2007 the year with the second highest retail growth rate since 2002, Statistics Canada said today.

In 2007, retailers sold an estimated $412.2 billion worth of goods and services, up 5.8% over 2006.

The Canadian dollar opened at US99.12¢, up about one-quarter of a cent from Thursday’s close.

In today’s earnings news, Penn West Energy Trust, Canada’s largest energy trust, says its fourth-quarter profit rose three per cent to $127 million before two major acquisitions were completed last month.

Rogers Communications Inc. reported a 44% increase in fourth-quarter profit to $254 million, with solid growth in its wireless, cable and media divisions.

In business news, Bombardier said Friday it will begin making formal sales offers to airlines for its CSeries aircraft.

Oil prices are down for the second straight day after reaching a record above US$101 a barrel. Light sweet crude for April delivery lost 28¢ to $97.95 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Stocks fell in Europe and Asia after renewed fears over the U.S. economy soured market sentiment.

Japan’s Nikkei stock average closed down 1.37%. In afternoon trading, Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.35%, Germany’s DAX index was down 1.07% and France’s CAC-40 dropped 1.37%.

On Thursday, energy and financial issues dragged the benchmark index of the Toronto Stock Exchange lower.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 42.14 points or 0.3%, to close at 13,509.55.

After markets closed, Royal Bank announced plans to acquire asset manager Phillips, Hager & North for 27 million RBC shares. Royal Bank declined 51¢ to $50.39.

The junior TSX Venture Exchange gained 18.32 points, or 0.69%, to 2,660.81.

In New York, U.S. stocks fell as energy shares retreated and the U.S. Conference Board said its index of leading economic indicators, a gauge of future economic activity, fell 0.1% last month.

The Dow Jones industrial average tumbled 142.96 points, or 1.15%, to end at 12,284.30. The S&P 500 slid 17.50 points, or 1.29%, to 1,342.53.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index dropped 27.32 points, or 1.17%, to 2,299.78.