Markets Right Now: Stocks open higher on Wall Street

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening slightly higher on Wall Street, led by gains in technology and consumer products makers.

Energy companies were also higher in early trading Tuesday as crude oil and natural gas prices rose.

Wal-Mart was up 3.7 percent after the giant retailer said it expected a 40 percent surge in online sales next year.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 6 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,551.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 49 points, or 0.2 percent, to 22,811. The Nasdaq composite climbed 23 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,602.