NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Stocks struggled Friday morning as investors eyed higher oil prices, weaker tech shares and a jump in the December trade gap.

The Nasdaq composite (down 0.55 to 2,255.32, Charts) lost 0.5 percent in the early going. The Dow Jones industrial average (up 24.73 to 10,883.35, Charts) and the broader Standard & Poor's 500 (up 0.32 to 1,264.10, Charts) index were barely lower.

Special Reportfull coverage America's cheapest gas is in this town Summer drivers to get a break on gas Why gas prices are likely to keep climbing You'll pay a little less for gas this summer Expect relief from record February gas prices Why gas prices are rising

Stocks were mixed Thursday, with investors unable to hold on to the previous session's advances. Friday began with a similar tone.

The December U.S. trade gap surged to $65.7 billion, above forecasts. That brought the 2005 gap up to $725.8 billion, an all-time record.

The deficit gave a lift to Treasury prices, which continued to rise following a strong response to Thursday's 30-year bond auction, the first in nearly 5 years.

The 10-year note rose, lowering the corresponding yield to 4.50 percent from 4.54 percent late Thursday. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.

Among stock movers, Oracle (down $0.09 to $12.60, Research) ticked lower. Late Thursday, the software maker issued guidance for fiscal third-quarter and fourth-quarter revenue growth in a range that was above analysts' estimates. The company also announced that it was cutting 2,000 jobs, as it completes the purchase of fellow software maker Siebel Systems.

U.S. light crude oil for March delivery gained 33 cents to $62.95 a barrel in electronic trading.

In currency trading, the dollar fell versus the euro and the yen.

COMEX gold for April delivery fell $5 to $559.50.

_______________

Click here for the latest business news.