Stocks are looking to open mixed. Techs look a bit weaker, but the broader market is looking up a little. However, there’s no convincing trend shaping up for the open.

In the U.S., initial jobless claims dropped another 3,000 last week, the fifth slide in six weeks. The data shows that the economy is bouncing back.

In Canada, January’s new motor vehicle dealers matched the record sales they posted in December, selling 146,288 vehicles. The December and January results followed near-record sales in November.

With improved economic activity, labour productivity in the business sector was up 0.5% in the fourth quarter from the third, bringing productivity growth in 2001 to 1.2%.

Oil prices are expected to firm today, as OPEC pledges to stick to output cuts that started in January.

In Europe, stocks are mixed, too, without much action. The FTSE is down 21 points to 5,251. The CAC 40 is six ticks stronger to 4529. The DAX has dropped five points to 5241.

Overnight in Asia, stocks were stronger again. The Nikkei gained 154 points to 11,569. The Hang Seng added 86 points to 11,304.

In earnings news, Inex Pharmaceuticals reported a net loss of $22.3 million for 2001. The firm says that this is consistent with management’s expectations and compares with a net loss of $13.8 million in 2000.