US: Dow, S&P open higher as upbeat earnings obscure Mid-east jitters

THE Dow and the S&P 500 opened higher on Tuesday (Apr 16), with health insurers leading the charge following upbeat results from industry major UnitedHealth, while investors kept tabs on the conflict in the Middle East.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 257.11 points, or 0.68 per cent, at the open to 37,992.22.

The S&P 500 opened higher by 2.77 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 5,064.59, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 28.64 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 15,856.38 at the opening bell. REUTERS