Stocks Inched Higher on Stimulus

U.S. stocks inched higher in the early trading on Monday, after central bank boosted to sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 3.50 points, or 0.02%, to 17,813.56. The S&P 500 was up 3.63 points, or 0.18%, to 2,067.13. The Nasdaq Composite rose 21.86 points, or 0.46%, to 4,734.83.

U.S. and global business confidence slumped in the third quarter, according to a survey of business executives released Sunday. Markit said its U.S. business outlook survey showed that a net 31.2% of executives saw growing activity for the next 12 months in October, down from a net 51.4% when they were surveyed in June.

German business sentiment unexpectedly increased in November, a closely watched survey showed, suggesting Europe’s largest economy is slowly finding its footing after struggling to expand in recent months.The Ifo Institute said Monday that its monthly business confidence survey rose to 104.7 from 103.2 in October, breaking a string of six- straight monthly declines.

Redbox is raising its DVD rental price by 25%, in a move that could improve the company’s stagnant bottom line and help the Outerwall Inc. unit invest in new technology.

BT Group PLC (BT) said Monday it is in talks to buy U.K. mobile business O2 from Telefonica (TEF). The British telecoms company said it has received expressions of interest from O2 and another U.K. mobile network operator about possible takeover by BT.