US: Stocks up ahead of Disney results, jobs report

[NEW YORK] US stocks opened higher Monday at the start of a news-jammed week that includes earnings from Disney and the October jobs report.

Five minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 17,709.84, up 46.31 points (0.26 per cent).

The broad-based S&P 500 rose 5.15 (0.25 per cent) to 2,084.51, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 10.86 (0.21 per cent) at 5,064.61.

Key earnings this week include major media companies led by Disney, which has cut jobs from its ESPN sports broadcasting division and expects a big lift from the upcoming "Star Wars" movie.

The economic calendar includes the October US employment report on Friday, which could influence whether the Federal Reserve raises benchmark interest rates in December. Fed Chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to testify in Congress on Wednesday.

AFP