Stocks Opened Flat ahead of New Home Sales Data

U.S. stocks edged up at open on Friday, ahead of data on the housing market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately gained 32.04 points, or 0.19%, to 16,575.12. The S&P 500 added 2.14 points, or 0.11%, to 1,894.63. The Nasdaq Composite was off 1.67 points, or 0.04%, to 4,152.67.

Canada’s inflation rate quickened in April to reach the central bank’s target for the first time in two years, led by higher energy costs that Governor Stephen Poloz says he will disregard. The consumer price index rose 2 percent in April from a year ago following March’s 1.5 percent pace, as energy prices jumped 8.4 percent, Statistics Canada said today from Ottawa.

Panasonic Corp said it expected to become the sole manufacturer in Tesla Motors Inc’s planned multibillion-dollar U.S. battery factory, firming up its commitment to the electric car maker’s project.

Barclays Bank PLC (BCS) is to be fined more than $43.9 million for failings around the London Gold Fix, the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority said on Friday.