The major markets are expected to begin the day on a mixed note, as investors once again become wary about the U.S. economy and world oil prices.

Futures prices were slightly lower for the Dow Jones industrial average, S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100.

A pre-open surprise, however, was news that investment bank Goldman Sachs Group reported a 79% surge in third-quarter earnings to US$2.85 billion. Bear Stearns will also report earnings today.

The C$, meanwhile, soared to near-parity with the US$, opening in North America at 99.42 cents US, up an impressive 0.92 cent.

Part of the dollar’s boost came as world oil prices reached a record high US$82.24 a barrel in pre-market trading in New York.

Canada’s booming energy sector’s latest gains from record-high oil prices have been dampened by new concerns that Alberta is considering hiking its royalty rates.

Ben Bernanke, chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, is scheduled to testify this morning before the House Financial Services Committee about the subprime mortgage crisis. The hearing begins at 10 am ET.

Traders will closely listen for hints on whether the Fed plans to be more aggressive in cutting U.S. interest rates to deal with the credit crunch.

Overseas, Britain’s FTSE 100 lost 0.8%, Germany’s Dax lost 0.5% and France’s CAC-40 fell 0.9%.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 0.2% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index tacked on 0.6%.