Stocks Opened Higher as Black Friday Sales Started

U.S. stocks opened higher on Friday, with retail stocks in focus as Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 39.02 points, or 0.17%, to 23,565.20. The S&P 500 climbed 4.75 points, or 0.18%, to 2,601.83. The Nasdaq Composite rose 8.43 points, or 0.12%, to 6,875.79.

U.S. oil prices climbed on Friday, as investors kept a wary eye on a pipeline disruption to a major crude-oil hub in Oklahoma. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 53 cents, or 0.9%, to $58.55 a barrel. Brent oil added 4 cents to $63.59 a barrel.

U.S. shoppers had splurged more than $1.52 billion online by Thanksgiving evening, and more bargain hunters turned up at stores this year as retailers opened their doors early on the eve of Black Friday.