North American stocks will likely open flat Tuesday as investors digest revised figures on the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter.

The U.S. economy moved faster at the end of 2005 than originally believed, but the pace of growth was still the weakest in three years.

Gross domestic product rose at a 1.6% annual rate October through December, the U.S. Commerce Department said today in its first revision to fourth-quarter 2005 GDP. Today’s revision was in line with analyst expectations.

A survey of Chicago-area manufacturing, consumer confidence and existing home sales data releases are scheduled for 10:00 ET. February consumer confidence is seen slipping to 103.9 from 106.3, February Chicago PMI is forecasted to edge up to 58.6% from 58.5% and January existing home sales are likely to rise a bit to 6.65 million from 6.6 million.

Here at home, Statistics Canada said investment spending, exports and personal expenditure all advanced in the fourth quarter, pushing up real GDP 0.6%. GDP rose at a 2.5% annual rate during the quarter.

In December, monthly output was up 0.4%, after increasing 0.2% in November and 0.3% in October.

The Canadian dollar opened unchanged at US87.69¢.

In earnings news, mortgage specialist Equitable Group Inc. is increasing its quarterly dividend after fourth-quarter profit rose 29% to $5.6 million and its assets surpassed $2 billion for the first time. The company said Tuesday it will pay a dividend of 10¢ per share on April 4, representing a two-cent increase.

Auto parts giant Magna International Inc. today reported its fourth-quarter profit declined to US$83 million, from a year-earlier US$177 million, as complete vehicle assembly sales declined 12%.

In business news, Intrawest Corp. is looking for a buyer or a partner, among various options, as it tries to boost the value of its stock. The Vancouver-based firm said today it has begun “a review of strategic options available to the company for enhancing shareholder value.”

European stock markets edged lower, with the German DAX 30 index, the French CAC 40 and the UK’s FTSE 100 index all slipping 0.1%.

In Asia, the Nikkei 225 index rose 0.1% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Toronto stocks slumped Monday, as falling resource prices dragged the market down, while the Canadian dollar rallied on news of a record national current account surplus.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 104.08 points, or 0.88%, to 11,706.47. Volume on the senior exchange was 257 million shares.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index fell back 15.05, or 0.59%, to 2,543.33.

In New York, lower energy prices plus some positive corporate reports buoyed the markets.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 35.70 points at 11,097.55, the Nasdaq composite index rose 20.14 points to 2,307.18, while the S&P 500 Index gained 4.69 points to 1,294.12.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported that sales of new single-family homes dropped by 5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.233 million units in January.