Wall Street opens higher, led by healthcare

US stock indices opened the first session of the week as concerns over a US-led strike on Syria soothed as indicators point to a one-off attack instead of a prolonged intervention. 

Otherwise, tarlier US data showed retail sales rose 0.6% in March, compared to a 0.1% dip in February, and beating expectations of a 0.4% rise, while core sales rose 0.2% in line with expectations. 

The Empire State Manufacturing Index slowed down to 15.8 in April from 22.5 in March, missing expectations of 14.9, while business inventories rose 0.6% as expected in February, as the NAHB Housing Market Index inched down to 69 from 70 in March, missing forecasts of 71. 

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic is due to speak about the economy at the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, in Alabama later today, while the first-quarter earnings season gears up for major American banks and corporations. 

As of 02:43 GMT, Standard and Poor's 500 rose 0.67%, or 17.88 points to 2,674,60, while Dow Jones advanced 0.86%, or 209.93 points to 24,570.07. 

Tech-heavy NASDAQ gained 0.52%, or 37.23 points to 7,144.72.