Stocks Opened Mixed, Retail Sales Jumped

U.S. stocks opened mixed on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq gained helped by a rise in oil prices and a recovery in tech stocks, while the Dow Jones Industrial average was slightly lower after rising for six straight days. The Dow lately fell 34.89 points, or 0.18%, to 18,833.80. The S&P 500 added 3.77 points, or 0.17%, to 2,167.97. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 29.07 points, or 0.56%, to 5,247.47.

Sales at U.S. retailers surged in October to cap the best two-month stretch since early 2014. Retail sales jumped 0.8% last month after a revised 1% gain in September, the government said Tuesday.

Home Depot, the No. 1 U.S. home improvement chain, reported third-quarter profit and sales that beat analysts’ estimates. Home Depot said sales at its established stores rose 5.5% in the three months ended Oct. 30.

Oil futures rose Tuesday, on track to snap a three-session losing streak, amid ongoing efforts to shore up a proposed production cut by members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. Light, sweet crude futures for delivery in December climbed 2.8%, or $1.21, to $44.53 a barrel. January Brent crude rose 2.4%, or $1.06, to $45.49 a barrel.

United Airlines will roll out a new “Basic Economy” fare class early next year as it becomes the latest big U.S. carrier to take on a new wave of encroaching discount rivals.