US: Wall St opens higher as regional banks bounce, debt talks grind on

US STOCK indexes opened higher on Wednesday (May 17) after Western Alliance led a bounce among regional banks amid cautious optimism about a potential breakthrough in the deadlock in Washington over the nation’s debt limit.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 80.34 points, or 0.24 per cent, at the open to 33,092.48.

The S&P 500 opened higher by 12.95 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 4,122.85, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 45.53 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 12,388.58 at the opening bell. REUTERS