Stocks Open Higher; Dow Edged Closer to 20,000

U.S. stocks opened higher on Friday, with the Dow Industrial Average inching closer to the psychologically important 20,000 level. The Dow lately gained 37.99 points, or 0.19%, to 19,890.23. The S&P 500 advanced 2.87 points, or 0.13%, to 2,264.90. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 8.79 points, or 0.16%, to 5,465.65.

New-home construction in the U.S. fell more than forecast last month after surging in October to a nine-year high, indicating fitful progress in residential real estate. Residential starts slumped 18.7 percent to a 1.09 million annualized rate in November after a 27.4 percent increase to 1.34 million a month earlier, Commerce Department data showed Friday

Oil prices were steady Friday, under pressure from potential production increases in Libya where operations have restarted at two key oil fields. Brent crude edged down 0.2% to $53.91 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate futures were trading down 0.3% at $50.73 a barrel.

Mylan NV, whose price increases on its lifesaving EpiPen drug drew broad criticism this summer and helped launched a federal investigation, on Friday said it had launched its half-priced generic version of the medicine.