North American stocks markets are likely to open flat Monday with reports on U.S. inflation data due out later this week.

In today’s earnings news, toymaker Mega Brands Inc. said its third-quarter profit fell to US$18 million from a year-earlier US$20.4 million, dragged down by a product liability settlement totalling US$13.5 million.

Furniture maker Shermag Inc. cut its second-quarter loss to $1.1 million, from a year-ago $2.1 million, as cost-cutting offset lower revenue.

In M&A news, Arcelor Mittal said Monday that an independent trust controlling Dofasco Inc. has refused to allow its sale, thwarting plans by the world’s biggest steel producer to divest the Canadian steelmaker and soothe U.S. antitrust concerns. Mittal is legally bound by a U.S. Department of Justice decree to shed Dofasco by November 28, although that deadline can be extended by 60 more days.

Eddie Bauer Holdings agreed to be acquired by Eddie B Holding, a company owned by affiliates of Sun Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital, for roughly US$614 million, including debt assumption of US$328 million.

In other business news, Toyota Motor is stepping up its race to open new factories as part of a confidential blueprint to grab a 15% global market share by 2010 amid an expected surge in car sales in India, China and other emerging markets.

Crude-oil prices fell 50¢ to $59.09 a barrel.

Canadian financial institutions are closed Monday for the Remembrance Day holiday. On Friday, the loonie closed at US88.39¢, down 0.14 of a cent.

International stock markets were mixed. In London, the FTSE 100 rose 0.3% in London, while the Nikkei 225 ended 0.6% lower in Tokyo.

The Japanese benchmark shed 89.94 points to 16,022.49

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index fell 22.6 points, or 0.1%, to 18,868.54 points.

Toronto stocks dropped Friday, as the energy and materials indices were hit by a losing session in commodity prices.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 69.76 points, or 0.56%, to 12,340.47.

For the week, the senior exchange gained 101.43 points, or 0.83%.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index gained 4.89 points, or 0.18%, to 2,674.25.

In New York, markets finished ahead modestly, as lower crude prices offset some weak corporate news.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 5.13 points to close at 12,108.43, the Nasdaq composite index rose 13.71 points to finish at 2,389.72, while the S&P 500 advanced 2.57 points to 1,380.90.

For the week, the Dow was up 1%, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 2.5% and the S&P 500 1.2%.