Stocks Opened Higher ahead of Economic Releases

U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Monday as investors assessed personal-income data and waited for a raft of economic reports that should provide insight into the health of the U.S. economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 36 points, or 0.2%, to 18,166.29. The S&P 500 opened 1 point higher at 2,105.68. The Nasdaq Composite began the day up 12 points, or 0.3%, to 4,975.50.

Consumer purchases adjusted for inflation rose in January. The 0.3 percent increase followed a 0.1 percent drop the prior month, a Commerce Department report showed Monday in Washington.

Trading was halted Monday in Lumber Liquidators after its shares dropped more than 20 percent following a CBS report that the company sold flooring with higher levels of formaldehyde than permitted under California’s health and safety standards.

Costco shoppers will be able to use Visa cards for the first time on April 1. Costco has reached an agreement with Citi for a new co-branded credit card program, shortly after dropping its similar deal with American Express.

Michael Jordan, considered the best basketball player of all time, has just joined the billionaires’ club. Jordan is one of the 290 newly-minted billionaires on Forbes’ annual list of the world’s richest people.

Michael Jordan, considered the best basketball player of all time, has just joined the billionaires’ club. Jordan is one of the 290 newly-minted billionaires on Forbes’ annual list of the world’s richest people.