Stocks Opened Little Changed amid Economic Data

U.S. stocks opened little changed on Tuesday as investors considered stronger than expected new economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lately rose 20.62 points, or 0.07%, to 28,256.51. The S&P 500 gained 1.94 points, or 0.06%, to 3,193.39. The Nasdaq Composite was down  5.40 points, or 0.06%, to 8,808.82.

Oil futures saw small gains early Tuesday, building on a rally that took crude to a three-month high in the previous session in the wake of a “phase-one” U.S.-China trade deal. West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery rose 17 cents, or 0.3%, to $60.38 a barrel, while February Brent crude advanced 25 cents, or 0.4%, to $65.59 a barrel.

Data on U.S. November industrial production and capacity utilization showed a 1.1% increase in November, the largest monthly increase in two years. The U.S. Census Bureau said home builders increased new construction at an annual pace of 1.365 million in November, an increase of 3.2% from October’s pace. Permits for new construction were issued at an annual rate of 1.482 million in November, a 1.4% increase for October’s rate.