Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened higher on Tuesday, as investors were focusing on the upcoming U.S. presidential election, even as concerns over Greece's financial woes continued to weigh.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.42%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.32%, while the Nasdaq Composite index eased up 0.04%.
Trade was subdued as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach ahead of the start of voting in the U.S. presidential elections later in the day, with polls pointing to a tight race between incumbent President Barack Obama and Republican contender Mitt Romney.
Meanwhile, investors also remained cautious ahead of Wednesday’s parliamentary vote in Greece on new austerity measures needed for Athens to secure its next installment of international aid.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as U.S. lenders tracked their European counterparts. Shares in Bank of America rose 0.31% and JP Morgan advanced 0.80%, while Goldman Sachs climbed 0.84% and Citigroup jumped 1.18%.
Also on the upside, Abbott Laboratories added 0.11% after it reportedly sold USD14.7 billion of bonds on Monday in the largest dollar-denominated offering in more than three years as the drug and medical-device maker prepares to split in two.
Elsewhere in the pharmaceutical sector, CVS dropped 0.30% after the drug store chain edged past earnings expectations and raised its forecast for the full year, on improving sales at its stores and an increase in pharmacy benefit clients.
Meanwhile, children's toymaker LeapFrog Enterprises plunged 3.66%, even after it raised its full-year forecast and said it will increase its advertising spending to attract more shoppers during the holiday season.
Zillow added to losses, with shares diving 18.53% after the real estate website announced a fourth-quarter revenue below estimates and the company lost one of its larger advertisers.
Auto makers were mixed after Nissan Motor earlier cut its full-year net profit forecast by 20%, although it posted a better than expected 3-month net profit. Shares in General Motors dropped 0.39%, while Ford climbed 0.62%.
Other stocks in focus included News Corp, due to report earnings later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.49%, France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.46%, Germany's DAX rose 0.61%, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.63%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.28%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index dropped 0.36%.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.42%, the S&P 500 index rose 0.32%, while the Nasdaq Composite index eased up 0.04%.
Trade was subdued as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach ahead of the start of voting in the U.S. presidential elections later in the day, with polls pointing to a tight race between incumbent President Barack Obama and Republican contender Mitt Romney.
Meanwhile, investors also remained cautious ahead of Wednesday’s parliamentary vote in Greece on new austerity measures needed for Athens to secure its next installment of international aid.
Financial stocks were broadly higher, as U.S. lenders tracked their European counterparts. Shares in Bank of America rose 0.31% and JP Morgan advanced 0.80%, while Goldman Sachs climbed 0.84% and Citigroup jumped 1.18%.
Also on the upside, Abbott Laboratories added 0.11% after it reportedly sold USD14.7 billion of bonds on Monday in the largest dollar-denominated offering in more than three years as the drug and medical-device maker prepares to split in two.
Elsewhere in the pharmaceutical sector, CVS dropped 0.30% after the drug store chain edged past earnings expectations and raised its forecast for the full year, on improving sales at its stores and an increase in pharmacy benefit clients.
Meanwhile, children's toymaker LeapFrog Enterprises plunged 3.66%, even after it raised its full-year forecast and said it will increase its advertising spending to attract more shoppers during the holiday season.
Zillow added to losses, with shares diving 18.53% after the real estate website announced a fourth-quarter revenue below estimates and the company lost one of its larger advertisers.
Auto makers were mixed after Nissan Motor earlier cut its full-year net profit forecast by 20%, although it posted a better than expected 3-month net profit. Shares in General Motors dropped 0.39%, while Ford climbed 0.62%.
Other stocks in focus included News Corp, due to report earnings later in the day.
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were higher. The EURO STOXX 50 climbed 0.49%, France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.46%, Germany's DAX rose 0.61%, while Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.63%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.28%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index dropped 0.36%.