Stocks Opened Higher amid Data

U.S. stocks opened higher on Tuesday as investors brace for economic reports that could determine the path of monetary policy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately added 165.39 points, or 0.93%, to 17,885.31. The S&P 500 gained 17.11 points, or 0.82%, to 2,097.52. The Nasdaq Composite was up 34.18 points, or 0.67%, to 5,142.84.

Shoppers spent $2.98 billion online on Cyber Monday, 12% more than 2014 and the biggest online shopping day ever, according to Adobe ADBE, +0.55% Consumers spent $11 billion for the entire period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, a year-over-year increase of 15%.

Amazon.com Inc said sales of its electronic gadgets more than tripled over the Thanksgiving weekend from last year, with the Fire tablet the top-selling product. Sales of the 7-inch tablet more than tripled, while the Fire TV set-top box sold six times more than last year, the company said.

U.S. auto industry sales will rise above 18 million vehicles on an annualized basis for November, continuing a pace for a record sales year in 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU.N) (FCHA.MI) said on Tuesday.

Bank of Nova Scotia, Canada’s third-largest bank, reported a higher quarterly profit on Tuesday, helped by asset growth and favorable foreign exchange moves. Net income for the fourth quarter ended on Oct. 31 was C$1.84 billion ($1.38 billion), or C $1.45 per share, compared with C$1.44 billion, or C$1.10 per share, a year earlier.

Crude oil prices steadied on Tuesday as the dollar eased, but with OPEC widely expected to stick to its output target this week, concern about oversupply remained in focus. Brent crude futures were up 4 cents at $44.65 a barrel by 1143 GMT, while U.S. WTI crude futures were up 13 cents at $41.78 a barrel.