Stocks higher at the open on stimulus hopes

U.S. stocks opened slightly higher as investors weighed competing cross-currents, including the likelihood of greater stimulus spending under the new presidential administration set against more political uncertainty until then. The Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
+0.19%
added 25 points, 0.1%, to open near 31,033, while the S&P 500
SPX,
+0.04%
gained 3 points, 0.1%, and traded near 3,803. The Nasdaq Composite
COMP,
+0.28%,
which slumped Monday, moved 0.2%, 28 points, higher at the open, near 13,064. In addition to Washington, all eyes are on fourth-quarter corporate earnings, which start Friday. Shares of Walmart Inc
WMT,
+1.14%
rose after the bell after the retailer announced plans to create a fintech startup.