North American stocks are pointing to a solid start Friday after strong results from Google outweighed weaker profit at Pfizer.

On Thursday, the Toronto stock market tumbled more than 130 points, just a day after hitting a new record close, in a broad-based decline led by resource stocks as investors worried that Chinese government moves to cool the economy could dampen demand for commodities.

Google said late Thursday that its first-quarter profit jumped 69% to US$1 billion, or $3.18 a share, from US$592 million, or $1.95 a share, a year earlier as it expanded its lead in the global market for Internet search advertising.

Pfizer’s first-quarter profit dropped 17% as the drugmakers’s results were weighed down by restructuring costs..

Honeywell International posted a 21% jump in first-quarter profit, amid strength in the aerospace market and demand for the technology and manufacturing conglomerate’s security and control products. It also raised its 2007 earnings and revenue outlook.

Advanced Micro Devices swung to a loss of US$611 million, or $1.11 a share, from a profit of 38¢ a share, as it was stung by weaker prices for its personal computer server chips.

Business software giant SAP reported a 10% rise in first-quarter profit to 310 million euros (US$421.5 million), with growth in the U.S. leading the way.

Caterpillar’s first-quarter profit fell 2.9% as results were weighed down by continued weakness in the North American housing market and poor truck engine sales. However, the company raised its 2007 sales and earnings outlook due to continued strength in its overseas industries.

Xerox reported a 17% increase in first-quarter earnings, helped by stronger sales of its products and services.

Oil prices also climbed, rising 32¢ to US$63.64 a barrel.

In today’s economic news, Canadian retail sales were essentially flat in February, masking underlying differences in movements among retail trade groups. Statistics Canada reported that total retail sales edged up 0.1% in February to an estimated $33.3 billion.

Weak sales at new car dealers were offset by strong sales growth in other major retail sectors in February.

The Canadian dollar opened at US88.61¢, up 0.08 of a cent.

Overseas markets rebounded from the previous day’s Chinese rate rise fears. The Nikkei finished 0.5% higher in Japan. In Europe, the U.K. FTSE 100 rose 0.6% and the German DAX Xetra advanced 0.9%.

Toronto stocks fell sharply on Thursday from record highs amid fears of an interest rate hike in China that could dampen demand for Canadian commodities.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 137.26 points, or 1%, at 13,574.70.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index gave back 38.58 points to 3,296.61,

In New York, the Dow eked out a record closing high for a second day in a row.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 4.79 points, or 0.04%, to close at 12,808.63, a record. However, the S&P 500 was down 1.77 points, or 0.12%, at 1,470.73, and the Nasdaq composite index was down 5.15 points, or 0.21%, at 2,505.35.