Wall Street opens higher, buoyed by crude prices

U.S. stock indices opened higher today after drawing support from higher crude prices, which underpinned energy and oil stocks.
 
An index tracking U.S. consumer confidence rose to 113.7 in December from 109.4, underpinning Wall Street further.
 
Crude prices rose past $53 a barrel, buoying stocks of American energy and oil companies, in turn leading Wall Street higher.
 
The dollar on the other hand kept trading near a 14-year peak against main currencies, stemming the gains of Wall Street today.
 
Standard and Poor's 500 rose 0.38%, or 8.49 points to 2,272.28, while Dow Jones advanced 0.20%, or 40.67 points to 19,974.48.
 
Tech-heavy NASDAQ jumped 0.75%, or 40.71 points to 5,503.40.