Global indicators for stocks were mostly negative Thursday, as oil futures hovered close to US$100 a barrel and worries about the global economy lingered.

Oil prices were up 25¢ to US$99.87 a barrel early today. Meanwhile, gold futures climbed US$8.70 to US$868.70 an ounce.

There are no major economic releases from Statistics Canada today.

The Canadian dollar opened at US100.43¢, down three-tenths of a cent, after falling 15-hundredths of a cent on Wednesday.

South of the border, U.S. factory orders data for November will be released shortly after the open at 9:30 ET. There also will be weekly reports on jobless claims and U.S. energy inventories, the latter particularly important given the recent run-up in crude. The energy data are due out at 10:30 ET.

Starting at around, auto makers will report on U.S. sales for December, with even Toyota Motor expected to report a decline. Analysts also expect sales from General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler to fall.

Overseas, retailers and technology issues led European stocks lower, with the FTSE 100 slipping 0.1% in London after updates from British retailers DSG International and Next.

The Hang Seng dropped 2.4% in Hong Kong.

Record high gold and oil prices boosted Toronto stocks on Wednesday.

The S&P/TSX composite index jumped 93.70 points, or 0.68%, to end at 13,926.76 in the first trading day of the year.

The materials sector led the advance, rising 3.8%, while its gold subsector soared 7.5% as the price of gold touched a record US$861.10 an ounce, helped by a weaker U.S. dollar and international political tensions.

The heavyweight energy sector climbed 2.1% as oil briefly hit the highly anticipated US$100 a barrel mark amid violence in oil-producer Nigeria and tight energy stockpiles. Crude eased to US$99.62, but was still up US$3.64.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index rose 30.83 points, or 1.09%, at 2,870.49.

In New York, stocks sank after data showed a surprise contraction in U.S. manufacturing and oil prices surged.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down 220.86 points, or 1.67%, at 13,043.96. The S&P 500 was down 21.20 points, or 1.44%, at 1,447.16. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell 42.65 points, or 1.61%, to 2,609.63.