Stocks Rise Ahead of Leading Indicators Data

Stocks opened higher on Friday ahead of reports on leading economic indicators and consumer sentiment. The Dow Jones  industrial average lately was up 27.57 points, or 0.18 percent, at 15,260.79. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was up 5.32 points, or 0.32 percent, at 1,655.79. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 11.14 points, or 0.32 percent, at 3,476.38.

The European Central Bank will keep its loose and growth-supportive monetary policy stance in place for “quite a long time”,  ECB executive board members said on Friday.

J.C. Penney Co Inc Chief Executive Myron Ullman told Wall Street on Thursday that the department store chain is emerging from what he called an abyss but warned he needs time to fix the issues of the retailer.

Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook will propose tax changes that would encourage firms to bring home more of their offshore funds when he faces congressional queries next Tuesday over his company’s overseas cash holdings and tax bills, the Washington Post reported.

Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) upsized its convertible debt sale a second time and offered a coupon at the low end of expectations, the latest signs of investors’ faith in the company’s growth.