Stocks Opened Higher; Hewlett-Packard’s Split-up

U.S. stocks opened higher on Monday as upcoming news from the Federal Reserve’s labor-market conditions index is widely expected to confirm the positive outlook for the U.S. economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately added 70.11 points, or 0.41%, to 17,079.80. The S&P 500 rose 8.45 points, or 0.43%, to 1,976.35. The Nasdaq Composite gained 15.69 points, or 0.35%, to 4,491.32.

Hewlett-Packard Co said it would split into two listed companies, separating its computer and printer businesses from its faster-growing corporate hardware and services operations. HP said its shareholders would own a stake in both businesses through a tax-free transaction next year.

German factory orders tanked in August, signaling that the rest of the year will feature weak economic output or even stagnation, experts said. The total index fell by 5.7% in monthly adjusted terms, according to the German economy ministry.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) outlined plans to lift its iron-ore capacity by nearly 30% without building any new mines as it pledged to overtake rival Rio Tinto PLC (RIO) as the world’s most profitable producer of the steel-making commodity.

Medical technology company Becton Dickinson & Co. BDX, +6.23% has reached a deal to buy CareFusion Corp. (CFN), for $12.2 billion in cash and stock, the two corporations said late Sunday.

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