Global indicators were mixed for North American stock markets early Wednesday while crude oil prices were up.

Wall Street futures suggested a strong start for regular trading, but European indexes were mostly negative.

After four upward-moving sessions, Japanese shares fell as traders took profits on auto and real estate issues. Most other Asian stock markets closed higher.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index fell 67.7 points, or 0.5%, to close at 12,834.25.

Hong Kong shares rebounded slightly, as investors bought into property heavyweights following their declines a day earlier. The Hang Seng Index rose 16.06 points, or 0.1%, to 15,086.62.

The Canadian dollar opened at 84.8 U.S. cents, up 0.15 of a cent. On Tuesday, the loonie had risen 0.33 of a cent.

Toronto stocks were down Tuesday, despite positive economic news, as a flagging resource sector sent the senior exchange lower.

The S&P/TSX composite index finished down 59.96, or 0.55%, to 10,825.20.

Volume was 246 million shares.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups finished lower, with the energy sector shedding 1.13% and the materials sector losing 1.70%

Light, sweet crude for October delivery closed down 23 cents at US$63.11 a barrel.

EnCana closed down 35 cents, or 0.60%, to $58.25 after the oil and gas company announced it was selling all of its Ecuador assets to a joint venture of Chinese state-owned oil companies for approximately US$1.42 billion.

Suncor Energy Inc. closed down 72 cents, or 1.04%, to $68.67.

Improving trade deficit numbers from the U.S. sent the price of gold down US$3.70 to close at US$450 an ounce. Bema Gold Corp. fell 15 cents, or 4.78%, to $2.99.

ATI Technologies gained 10 cents, or 0.74%, to $13.64 after the company was named the principal graphics provider for Microsoft’s professional developer’s conference.

The information technology sector gained 0.37%.

In economic news, Statistics Canada reported that merchandise exports amounted to $38 billion in July, up 2.1% from June. It also said surging crude oil exports were the primary reason for an increase in Canada’s merchandise trade surplus with the world, which totalled $5.8 billion in July.

The junior S&P/TSX venture exchange finished down 10.38, or 0.52%, to 1,987.78.

In New York, disappointing earnings news from Best Buy and Knight-Ridder and investor worry over the longer-term impact of Hurricane Katrina had markets in a bearish mood.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 85.50 points to 10,597, the S&P 500 ended 9.36 points lower at 1,231, and the Nasdaq composite fell 11.08 points to 2,171.