NEW YORK (AP) ? Stocks are opening higher for the second day in a row ahead of a new look at the housing market.
Later Tuesday morning, the Commerce Department reports on new-home sales for July. Economists expect the number of people who bought new homes rose slightly.
Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones industrial average is up 56 points, or 0.5 percent, at 10,906.
The S&P 500 index is up 3 points, or 0.3 percent, at 1,127. The Nasdaq is up 12 points, or 0.5 percent, at 2,356.
Reports on manufacturing in Europe and China lifted world markets Tuesday. Investors are hoping Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will announce some kind of assistance Friday for the U.S. economy.
