NEW YORK — Stocks are opening higher on Wall Street after the pace of home construction picked up in May, the latest encouraging sign from the housing market.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 45 points, or 0.3 percent, to 15,229 in the first few minutes of trading Tuesday.
In this Monday, June 10, 2013 photo, trader Edward Landi check a screen in a booth on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Global stock markets traded fitfully Tuesday June 18, 2013 as investors watched for signs of a possible change in U.S. stimulus efforts by the Federal Reserve. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
The Standard & Poor's 500 index was up four points, or 0.3 percent, at 1,643. Nine of the 10 industry groups in the index rose.
The Nasdaq composite was up 13 points, or 0.4 percent, at 3,465.
Hormel Foods fell $1.47, or 4 percent, to $39.21 after the company cut its profit forecast for the year, citing weak sales and higher costs.
Investors are hopeful that the Federal Reserve will keep up its economic stimulus program. The bank starts a two-day policy meeting Tuesday.
