Stocks Opened Higher, Eyed on Earnings

U.S. stocks opened higher on Monday as investors welcomed a round of earnings reports showing solid growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 135.58 points, or 0.56%, to 24,495.72. The S&P 500 gained 10.55 points, or 0.40%, to 2,666.85. The Nasdaq Composite gained 11.90 points, or 0.56%, to 7,118.55.

Oil prices fell Monday, as investors took weekend airstrikes on Syria in their stride. May West Texas Intermediate crude dropped $1.16, or 1.8%, to $66.20 a barrel. June Brent fell $1.25, or 1.8%, to $71.29 a barrel.

Bank of America reported a 34 percent rise in first-quarter profit on Monday, topping Wall Street estimates. Net income attributable to shareholders rose to $6.49 billion from $4.84 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose to 62 cents.

Sales at U.S. retailers rose 0.6% in March to end a streak of three straight declines, the Commerce Department reported Monday, underscoring the improved financial picture of American households and the resiliency of an economic expansion that could turn out to be the longest ever.