NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks rose at the open on Friday, boosted by encouraging data out of China and as a two-year high in the S&P 500 had investors betting on a year-end rally.
The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) was up 23.31 points, or 0.21 percent, at 11,393.37. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (.SPX) was up 3.04 points, or 0.25 percent, at 1,236.04. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) was up 6.67 points, or 0.25 percent, at 2,623.34.