NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are edging higher after new reports on retail sales and business inventories restored some optimism about the U.S. economy.
The gains are being kept in check Tuesday because of fresh concerns about Europe. German investor confidence fell sharply in September, and industrial production unexpectedly stagnated during July in the countries that use the euro.
In other signs that investors remain cautious, gold has climbed to another record and Treasury prices rose, sending interest rates lower.
The Dow Jones industrial average is up 28, or 0.3 percent, at 10,573. The S&P 500 is up 3, or 0.3 percent, at 1,125, while the Nasdaq composite is up 11, or 0.5 percent, at 2,296.
