Stocks are looking at a down open Friday, with a rather choppy trading session expected. Stock futures are weaker on news that Autodesk Inc. and Nvidia Corp. both said that earnings will fall short of analysts’ estimates.

On the economic front, the U.S. Consumer Price Index came in at 0.1% on the headline rate, and up 0.2% on the core rate. The market barely rippled at the news.

In Canada, the Composite Index rose 0.2% in July, its twelfth straight advance. The rise would have matched June’s 0.5% had the stock market not tumbled again, StatsCan said. Manufacturing continued to lead the advance, as five components increased, three declined, and two were unchanged.

In European trading, markets are mixed. Vivendi Universal SA, ABB Ltd. are down once again on financing fears. Alstom SA, Bombardier’s co-manufacturer of the suspended Amtrak service, is also seeing its shares battered today. But, Deutsche Telekom AG and Julius Baer Holding AG, are up today. The FTSE is up 11 points to 4,338. The CAC 40 has dropped 48 points to 3,327. The DAX is down 36 points to 3,630.

Stocks also finished the week mixed in Asian trading overnight. The Nikkei lost seven points to 9,788. The Hang Seng gained 45 points to 10,265.

In M&A news, Alcan Inc. concluded an agreement to purchase an additional 20% interest in the Aluminerie Alouette smelter. This transaction increases its stake to 40%. It will acquire the additional 20% from Corus Group plc for approximately US$165 million.

Placer Dome Inc. has extended the scheduled closing date of its offer for AurionGold Limited to August 30.

Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. announced it has completed the sale of its pilot manufacturing plant in Amqui, Quebec for $1.6 million. Forbes will receive $400,000 in up front payments and will receive an additional $350,000 in May 2003. The remaining $850,000 will be amortized over a seven year first mortgage.