Stocks Waver at Open, Home Depot Fuels Dow Rise

U.S. stocks wavered at the open on Tuesday, as investors were awaiting new comments from Federal
Reserve officials. The Dow was last up 21 points, or 0.11%, to 15,993.10, The S&P 500 dipped 0.49
point, or 0.03%, to 1,791.04. The Nasdaq Composite was up 3.51 points, or 0.09%, to 3,952.58.

Home Depot Inc. (HD), the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, posted third-quarter profit that
topped analysts’ estimates and boosted its earnings forecast. Net income in the three months ended
Nov. 3 rose 43 percent to $1.35 billion, or 95 cents a share, from $947 million, or 63 cents, a
year earlier.

U.S. labor costs rose marginally in the third quarter, pointing to tame wage inflation that should
allow the Federal Reserve to maintain its bond-buying program to stimulate the economy. The
Employment Cost Index, the broadest measure of labor costs, increased 0.4 percent after advancing
0.5 percent in the second quarter, the Labor Department said on Tuesday.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and the Justice Department Monday agreed to a landmark $13 billion
settlement that resolves a number of legal headaches for the largest U.S. bank, clearing the way
for a public announcement as soon as Tuesday, according to people familiar with the talks.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today it has opened a formal investigation
into the safety of the Tesla Model S electric car following two reports of battery fires after
striking roadway debris.

Brent slipped below $108 a barrelon Tuesday as investors anticipated talks this week betweenworld
powers and Iran that could lead to an easing of sanctionsagainst the oil-rich country. January
Brent crude fell 50 cents to $107.97 abarrel by 1335 GMT, down for the third straight session.
U.S.crude for December was down 23 cents to $92.80.