Trading is expected to get off to a negative start after profit-taking drove down North American markets yesterday.

There is no economic data out in Canada today. South of the border data on the services sector is expected in later today. As well, investors are anxiously awaiting Friday’s unemployment report.

On the Canadian business calendar today, financial reports are expected from Talisman Energy, Trojan Technologies and the Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, among others.

Meanwhile, at midday in Europe, London’s FTSE100 Share Index has slipped 0.6% to 4512.10. It’s hurting after the February U.K. services purchasing managers’ index came in at 59.5, shy of expectations.

In Paris, the CAC 40 Index is down 14.80 points, or 0.4%, to 3,770.56. In Frankfurt, the Xetra DAX Index has declined 14.78 points, or 0.4%, to 4,085.56.

In Asia stock prices fell on the back of Wall Street declines. Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average dropped 9.59 points, or 0.08%, to 11,351.92. Stocks in Hong Kong plunged for a second consecutive session. The Hang Seng Index dropped 277.26 points, or 2%, to close at 13,454.09.

The Bank of Canada cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point in an attempt to boost the economy and temper the dollar’s gains, yesterday, but the Toronto’s S&P/TSX composite index was off 66.67 points at 8,808. However, analysts argue the stock market was unaffected by the cut because it had been widely anticipated.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average gave up 86.66 points at 10,591.48, almost wiping out Monday’s gains. The Nasdaq composite fell 18.15 points to 2,039.65, while the S&P 500 index slid 6.86 points to 1,149.10.