Stocks Opened Higher on New Year’s Eve

U.S. stocks opened solidly higher on Monday on hope of progress on trade disputes with China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 200.21 points, or 0.87%, to 23,262.61. The S&P 500 gained 14.12 points, or 0.57%, to 2,499.86. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 34.01 points, or 0.52%, to 6,618.54.

Oil futures rose Monday alongside stock-market gains in the final trading day of a volatile 2018. West Texas Intermediate crude for February delivery rose 36 cents, or 0.8%, to $45.68 a barrel. February Brent crude rose $1.44, or 2.7%, at $54.65 a barrel.