Global indicators were mixed for North American stock markets early Wednesday as oil prices fell ahead of the U.S. government’s weekly energy inventory report.

Oil futures dropped 45¢ to US$67.35 in pre-market trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Today’s inventory report is expected to show increases in supplies of crude, gasoline and distillates.

In other economic news, demand for U.S. durable-goods orders tumbled in May, taking a fall that was much bigger than expected and extended into most categories of products.

Orders for durable goods decreased by 2.8% last month to a seasonally adjusted US$213.02 billion, the U.S. Commerce Department said today. Durables rose 1.1% in April, revised from a previously estimated 0.8% increase.

In today’s earnings news, mutual fund firm AGF Management Ltd. reported consolidated net income from continuing operations for the second quarter ended May 31, was up 128% to $49.1 million, or 54¢ a share diluted, compared with $21.5 million, or 24¢ a share diluted, for the same period last year.

On Tuesday, CHC Helicopter said its fourth-quarter earnings climbed 25% thanks to growth in its fleet. The Vancouver-based company said Tuesday its earnings were $13.5 million, or 30¢ a share, compared to $10.8 million, or 23¢ a share, last year.

Software giant Oracle said that first-quarter sales may rise more than expected.

Nike said late Tuesday that growth in the U.S. and abroad, plus surprisingly strong future orders, pushed fourth-quarter up 32% from the year-ago period.

Exfo Electro-Optical Engineering said a higher loonie cut into its third-quarter profit despite strong sales and record bookings. The telecom testing company said Tuesday that earnings for the quarter ended May 31 were US$2.6 million, or 4¢ a share, compared to US$3.5 million, or 5¢ a share, in the same period last year.

The Canadian dollar opened at US93.43¢, down 0.06 of a cent.

Overseas, many international stock markets declined on Wednesday, with the Nikkei 225 dropping 1.2% in Tokyo, the Hang Seng losing 0.4% in Hong Kong and the FTSE 100 dropping 0.8% in London.

Toronto stocks ended lower for a third straight session on Tuesday, as resource issues retreated and BCE shares fell.

The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 177.98 points, or 1.29%, at 13,663.88.

The benchmark index has shed more than 430 points over the past three sessions.

All but one of the 10 TSX main groups were lower, led by a 1.9% slide in energy sector and a 2.3% drop in the materials index.

Telecommunications shares, down 1.5%, were led lower by BCE, which dropped $1.23, or 3%, to $39.49, after rival firm Telus said on Tuesday it was backing out of the bidding process to take over BCE.

Telus rose 19¢, or 0.3%, to $62.19.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index fell fell 70.34 points to 3,119.55.

In New York, U.S. stocks also closed lower for a third session on Tuesday.

Rising bond yields and fears the subprime mortgage meltdown could spread hurt some financial stocks.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 14.39 points, or 0.11%, to end at 13,337.66. The S&P 500 was down 4.85 points, or 0.32%, to finish at 1,492.89. The Nasdaq composite index was down 2.92 points, or 0.11%, at 2,574.16.