North American stock markets are expected to open higher Friday, ahead of a three-day holiday weekend. Canadian markets will be closed Monday for Victoria Day.

There are no major economic news releases from Canada or the United States scheduled for release today.

In this morning’s earnings news, Rothmans Inc. is raising its regular dividend even as fiscal fourth-quarter profit dipped to $17.2 million from a year-earlier $20.9 million.

The dividend is rising 14% to $2, or 50¢ a quarter, from $1.75 previously.

For the quarter ended March 31, earnings amounted to 51¢ a share, down from 62¢ per share in the previous year’s fourth quarter, the company said. Sales, after excise duty and taxes, dropped to $136.5 million from $144.8 million.

European stocks are higher at midday as positive earnings news distract investors from their fears over interest rates and rising oil prices.

London’s FTSE 100 is ahead 0.43% at 4,447.70.

In Paris, the CAC 40 is up 0.5% at 3,628.34, while Frankfurt’s Dax is ahead 0.3% at 3,852.44.

Asian stock markets closed higher overnight, with prices rising in Tokyo on renewed optimism about the Japanese economy.

Tokyo’s Nikkei rose 208.21 points, or 1.92%, to 11,070.25.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng 236.39 points, or 2.1%, to 11,576.01.

Toronto stocks closed lower Thursday following declines in the information technology and metal and mining sectors. The S&P/TSX composite index fell 36.2 points to 8,160.59.

The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index shed 5.61 points to 1,553.98.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average climbed slightly, up 13.13 points to 9,950.84. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index added a mere 1.85 points to 1,900.02. The broader S&P 500 index gained slightly, just 1.69 points higher to 1,090.37.