North American markets appear headed for a mixed open Monday as oil prices topped US$59 a barrel.

Crude-oil futures hit a new record early Monday, reaching US$59.23 a barrel in Asian trading on concerns that demand will outstrip refineries’ ability to produce diesel and gasoline in the second half of the year.

In this morning’s business news, there are reports that Ameritrade Holdings is close to a deal to merge with Toronto-Dominion Bank’s TD Waterhouse USA unit.

There are no major economic reports from Canada or the United States today.

Toronto stocks ended lower on Friday as investors sold off a week’s worth of gains. The S&P/TSX composite index fell 21.14 points, or 0.21%, to close at 9,947.57.

During the session, the senior exchange temporarily charged through the psychologically important 10,000-point plateau, hit a peak of 10,045.29.

On the week, the benchmark index was up 1.61%

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index ended up 13.33, or 0.78%, to end 1,726.35.

In New York, markets advanced despite gas production worries and an ever-widening U.S. trade deficit.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 44.42, or 0.42%, to finish at 10,623.07, the Nasdaq ticked ahead 0.96 points, or 0.05%, to close at 2,090.11, and the S&P 500 lifted 6 points, or 0.5%, to end 1,216.96.

For the week, the Dow was up 1.07%, the S&P 500 was up 1.58%, and the Nasdaq was up 1.31%.