North American markets appeared to be headed for a positive opening Tuesday.

Canada’s trade surplus grew in December, despite strong growth by both imports and exports, Statistics Canada reported today.

The Canadian dollar opened at US85.27¢, up 0.19 of a cent from Monday’s close.

South of the border, the U.S. trade deficit widened for the first time in four months in December, expanding 5.3% to US$61.18 billion, as higher oil prices inflated imports

Oil prices drifted lower Tuesday, as light, sweet crude for March delivery fell 2¢ to US$57.79 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In earnings news, Canexus Income Fund, the chemicals spinoff of oil giant Nexen Inc., said its fourth-quarter profit dropped to nearly $3.8 million from a year-ago $10.8 million as quarterly revenues dropped to $100.9 million from $101.9 million.

Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. said its fourth-quarter profit tripled on higher trading volume and a one-time gain. The exchange, which on Saturday lost its hostile takeover bid for the London Stock Exchange, said profit for the quarter rose to US$63 million, or 43¢ per share, compared with US$17.1 million, or 15¢, a year earlier.

In M&A news, Harbinger Capital Partners said its $802 million bid for power producer Calpine Power Income Fund has succeeded, and the U.S.-based investment group has taken up 77% of its issued and outstanding units.

European bourses were mostly registering gains, London’s FTSE 100 ahead 8.9 points at 6,362.4, the Paris-based CAC 40 gained 15.35 to 5,659.3 and Germany’s DAX edging up 14.79 points to 6,874.24.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index rose 117.12 points, or 0.67%, to finish at 17,621.45 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange –

In Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index dropped 461.16 points, or 2.2%, to 20,132.25.

Toronto stocks were down Monday, the second consecutive negative session, as the market was weighed down by weakness in the energy sector.

The S&P/TSX composite index fell 43.41, or 0.33%, to 13.040.54 as the market retreated further from an all-high set last week.

Six of the 10 TSX main sub-groups were down, with the energy group giving up 1.11%.

CI Financial announced they had made a friendly takeover bid of Rockwater Capital Corp. for $250 million. CI Financial units gained 20¢, or 0.77%, to $26.30, while Rockwater Capital gained 18¢, or 2.43%, to $7.58.

The S&P/TSX Venture composite index moved up 6.66 points, or 0.22%, to 3,004.39.

In New York, markets fell as investors nervously awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision announcement later this week.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 28.28 points at 12,552.55, the S&P 500 index lost 4.69 points to 1,433.37, while the Nasdaq Composite gave up 9.44 points to 2,450.38.