North American stocks are likely to open flat Thursday, as investors digest mixed earnings results in the technology sector from Apple Computer, Nokia and Advanced Micro Devices.

Late Wednesday, Apple announced a stronger-than-forecast 27% profit rise on the back of sales of iPod music players and Macintosh computers.

AMD posted a 77% jump in third-quarter profit, but reported lower profit margins and average selling prices for its microchips.

Nokia, reported a 4.1% profit decline in the third quarter as costs relating to the restructuring of its Code Division Multiple Access division weighed on earnings.

Pfizer’s net income more than doubled in the third quarter as world-wide sales of epilepsy and pain medicine Lyrica more than tripled. But the drug maker cut its revenue outlook for 2007 and 2008, and plans to implement more cost-cutting moves.

Citigroup’s earnings fell 23% in its latest quarter, while Bank of America’s earnings rose by 41%.

Coca-Cola posted a 14% rise in net income, helped by growth in emerging markets and a strong quarter in Europe after successful World Cup promotions.

EBay posted a 10% increase in profit and a 31% jump in revenue for the third quarter, helped by expense control and favorable tax and foreign exchange rates.

German computer software giant SAP topped expectations with a 16% profit rise but issued a cautious earnings outlook.

Sony slashed its fiscal year profit forecasts Thursday because of costs from a massive global recall of laptop batteries and price cuts in Japan for the next-generation PlayStation 3 video game console.

In today’s M&A news, Alcan Inc. said it is in “advanced discussions” with GrafTech International Ltd to acquire the remaining 70 per cent stake in France’s Carbone Savoie for US$130 million to US$140 million.

On the data front, a pullback in the automotive sector was not enough to dampen wholesale sales in August, as wide ranging gains in other sectors led the wholesale industry to its third increase in four months.

Statistics Canada reported today that wholesale sales rose 0.5% to $42.6 billion in August, following a 2.2% rise in July.

Separately, StatsCan reported that Canadian investors bought $12.3 billion worth of foreign securities in August, the second highest level on record. Acquisitions of Canadian securities by non-residents, on the other hand, cooled down significantly to $335 million in August.

In the United States, September leading indicators are expected to rise 0.3% while the Philly Fed survey in October is expected to rise to 7.8 after last month’s surprise -0.4 reading.

Crude-oil prices rose 15¢ to US$57.80 a barrel a day after data showed U.S. supplies of crude up sharply for a third consecutive week. At an emergency meeting today in Qatar, OPEC is expected to agree on a cut in output to stem the recent slide in oil prices.

The Canadian dollar opened at US88¢, unchanged from yesterday’s close.

Overseas, Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index fell 101.64 points, or 0.61%, to finish at 16,551.36 points.

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index declined 61.12 points, or 0.3%, to 17,986.97.

Toronto stocks fell for a second day Wednesday as lower oil prices weighed on energy shares.

The S&P/TSX composite index gave back 30.63 points, or 0.26%, to 11,966.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index was ahead 17.34 points, or 0.72%, to 2,430.43.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 42.66 points, or 0.36%, to 11,992.68 after a brief stint above the 12,000-point mark.

The Nasdaq composite index lost early gains as reports from the tech sector disappointed, losing 7.8 points, or 0.33%, to 2,337.15, while the S&P 500 added 1.91 points, or 0.14%, to 1,365.96.