U.S. stock futures were unchanged for North American stock markets early Monday, despite a healthy dose of American takeover deals.

Among deals announced Monday, Oracle Corp. is buying Siebel Systems for US$5.85 billion; EBay Inc. plans to acquire internet communications firm Skype Technologies SA for about US$2.6 billion; and Wachovia Corp. has agreed to buy Irvine, Calif.-based Westcorp, an automobile finance company, for US$3.42 billion.

In New York, crude oil prices hovered above US$64 a barrel while European indexes were mixed.

Tokyo stocks rose after Japan’s reform-minded prime minister and his ruling party triumphed in parliamentary elections, while Hong Kong markets were boosted by the opening of a new Disneyland theme park. Most Asian markets also rose, with South Korean and Indian shares hitting new record highs.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index soared 204.39 points, or 1.6%, to 12,896.43.

In Hong Kong, shares edged up on forecasts that Hong Kong Disneyland, which officially opened Monday, will have a positive impact on the territory’s economy.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 34.02 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 15,199.79.

The Canadian dollar opened at US84.42 cents, down 0.51 of a cent.

Toronto stocks surged higher Friday, as big gains in the energy, financial and information technology sectors propelled the market.

The S&P/TSX composite index finished up 120.97, or 1.12%, to close at 10,898.20, its highest finish in five years.

Volume was 238 million shares.

The Canadian dollar closed up 0.32 of a U.S. cent to US84.93¢, its highest close in 10 months. The loonie traded above US85¢ during the day.

Light, sweet crude for October delivery fell 41¢ to settle at US$64.08 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil prices were down over 5% for the week, after trading above US$70 last week in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

The energy sector improved 2.21%. Suncor Energy Inc. gained $2.25, or 3.28%, to $70.90.

Enbridge reported it will spend roughly $400 million to build a pipeline from the Alberta oil sands to an Edmonton refinery hub. Its shares gained $1.39, or 4.01%, to $36.04.

The heavily weighted financials group gained 0.56%

The information technology index moved ahead 1.44%

Nortel Networks rose 7¢, or 1.88%, to $3.80.

Software firm Open Text announced it’s cutting 300 jobs to cut costs after lower sales affected profits. Its shares leapt ahead 10.29% to $15, a $1.40 gain.

The health care group lifted a remarkable 6.33%, mostly on the success of Biovail Corp. The pharmaceutical company gained $4.31, or 23.59%, to $22.58 on news its Tramadol ER drug had received FDA approval in the U.S.

In economic news, Statistics Canada the overall jobless rate at 6.8% in August, same as the July number.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said housing starts totalled 201,000 units in August, down from 242,600 units in July.

The junior S&P/TSX venture exchange finished up 18.95, or 0.96%, to 1,991.22.

In New York, the lower price of oil and good corporate news lifted markets higher.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 82.63 points to 10,678.56, the Nasdaq composite index was up 9.48 points at 2,175.51 and the S&P 500 Index climbed 9.81 points to 1,241.48.

The Dow Jones gained 2.2% on the week, the Nasdaq 1.6%, and the S&P500 1.9%.