Stocks Opened Higher ahead of Fed Meeting

U. S. stocks edged higher at the open on Tuesday ahead of the start of a highly-anticipated Federal Reserve meeting.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately added 65.06 points, or 0.43%, to 15,244.91. The S&P 500 index added 4.44
points, or 0.27%, to 1,643.48. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 14.25 points, or 0.41%, to 3,466.38.

The Commerce Department said on Tuesday housing starts rose 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of  914,000 units. April’s starts were revised up to show a 856,000-unit pace instead of the previously reported 853,000 units.

Airbus (EAD.PA) clinched a deal on Tuesday worth about $11 billion to supply British budget airline easyJet (EZJ.L) with 135 planes, dealing a blow to its U.S. rival Boeing (BA.N).

Sprint is suing to stop Dish Network’s buyout of wireless data network operator Clearwire. The nation’s third- largest cellphone carrier said the proposed deal violates the rights of Sprint and other Clearwire shareholders.