Stocks Opened Little Changed after Budget Deal

U.S. stocks opened little change on Wednesday as investors digested the budget deal announced
late Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately fell 32.38 points, or 0.20%, to 15,940.75. The S&P 500 was down 5.45 points or 0.30%, at 1,797.17. The Nasdaq Composite was off 11.01 points, or 0.27%, to 4,049.48.

Budget negotiators in the Congress have reached an agreement on Tuesday that, if approved by the
House and Senate, could restore some order to the nation’s chaotic budget process and avoid
another government shutdown on January 15.

Mining titan Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) said Wednesday it has already exceeded its target of cutting $2
billion in operating costs by the end of the year and said it will prioritize paying down debt
next year.

Home Depot Inc. (HD) said Wednesday that it plans reach its long-term financial goals a year
earlier than expected. It expects to reach an operating margin of around 12% and a return on
invested capital of 24% by the end of 2014, a year earlier than anticipated.