Apple, Cisco Lead DJIA Higher Tuesday

Markets opened higher on Tuesday after a long weekend of Christmas holidays. The Case-Shiller household confidence index improved from 5.6% per year over the years in October, the Conference Board consumer confidence index rose to almost 114. 11 sectors S & P posted gains on Tuesday. WTI crude oil for February delivery was set at $ 53.90 a barrel, up to about 1.7% on the day. Gold for February added about 0.5% on the day to close at $ 1,138.70. Shares were directed to a higher fence just before the bell as the Dow rose 0.10% for the day, the S & P 500 rose 0.27% and the Nasdaq Composite 0.55% traded.

Dow Jones shares, which posted the biggest daily percentage increase before Tuesday's close, were Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) which traded up 0.71% at $ 117.36. The 52-week stock is $ 89.47 to $ 118.69. The volume was approximately 55% below the daily average of about 32.7 million shares. The company had no new specificity on Tuesday.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) rose 0.61% to $ 30.72. The 52 week stock is $ 22.46 to $ 31.95. The volume was 60% lower than the daily average of about 22 million shares. Giant of the networks had no specific news.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) rose 0.55% to $ 242.30. The 52 week stock is $ 138.20 to $ 245.57. The volume was less than a third of the daily average of about 5.4 million shares. The investment bank had no specific news on Tuesday.

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) traded up 0.44% at $ 59.82. The 52 week stock is $ 47.97 to $ 65.46. The volume was less than half of the daily average of about 3.9 million shares. The pharmacist had no definite news.

Dow 30 shares, 22 are on track to close above Tuesdays and 8 should close lower.