US: Dow up as tax bill vote draws near

[NEW YORK] The benchmark S&P 500 and the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average opened higher on Tuesday amid rising hopes that the US Congress will vote in favor of the proposed tax overhaul.

The Dow rose 49.61 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 24,841.81, while the S&P gained 3.92 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 2,694.08.

The Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.24 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 6,992.52, weighed down by Apple.

REUTERS