Stocks are set to open higher this morning. In Toronto, they’re expected to get a boost from gold issues following an increase in the price of bullion, on the back of the weak U.S. dollar.

The U.S. dollar has dropped to a two-week low against the euro. This morning, Bema Gold Corp. also forecast higher annual production for the next three years.

The economic news is not quite as glittering this morning with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reporting that Canadian housing starts fell 10.9% in January to 195,500 units from a 219,400 units in December.

Investors will also looking to the latest release on U.S. wholesale inventory data at 10:00 ET from the Commerce Department. Economists expect a moderate 0.3% increase in wholesale inventories in December.

In Canadian business news, Alcan Inc. is reporting a higher fourth-quarter profit, but says the weak U.S. dollar offset the benefits of higher aluminum prices.

Meanwhile in Europe at midday, London’s FTSE100 is up 0.6% at 4,428.10. In Paris the CAC40 index is 1.2% higher at 3,669.19. Frankfurt’s Xetra Dax Index is up 1.3% at 4,096.68.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed down 58.31 points, or 0.6%, at 1,0402.61, after having risen more than 100 points earlier in the trading session.

Hong Kong shares advanced in Monday trading as hopes of upbeat earnings news the index higher for the second consecutive session. The Hang Seng Index closed up 267.08 points, or 2%, at 1,3576.68.

On Friday, the Toronto S&P/TSX composite index closed up a healthy 90.2 points, or 1.1%, at 8,638.61. On the week, the index rose 1.4%. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 97.48 points to 10,593.03. The Nasdaq composite index rose 44.45, or 2.2%, to 2,064.01. The S&P 500 advanced 14.17, or 1.3%, to 1,142.76.