Toronto stocks are flat it light trading Monday, with U.S. brokers and traders are off work for the Memorial Day holiday. In mid-morning trading, the S&P/TSX composite index is up 8 points to 6,791.

The information technology group is down, primarily because of a drop of more than 10% the share price of Research In Motion. RIM tumbled $2.75 to $24.65 after saying it will take a charge of up to US$19.25 million due to the latest court rulings in an intellectual-property case.

The Canadian dollar is off 0.18¢ to US72.58 on news of a worrying new outbreak of SARS in Toronto. Ontario officials recently acknowledged eight probable cases in a new outbreak of the disease, with 26 suspected cases and other patients under investigation.

In overseas trading the Hang Seng jumped 188.98 points to 9,492.71 overnithg, following a 1.9% gain Friday due in part to higher expectations after the World Health Organization lifted a SARS advisory against visiting the territory.

Taiwanese shares closed 2.7% higher on hopes SARS is subsiding, and Japan’s Nikkei index was up for a third day, gaining 42.56 points to 8,227.32.

In Europe, U.K. markets were closed for the Bank Holiday. Frankfurt’s DAX 30 edged 0.4% higher while the Paris CAC 40 was flat.

Traders will be looking ahead to Tuesday, when BMO Financial Group and Scotiabank both announce the details of their second quarter results.