Stocks opened to the upside Wednesday as investors were encouraged by the European Commission that said it would present options for joint euro zone bonds and largely shrugged off retail sales that came in weaker than expected.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened modestly higher, led by Alcoa and Cisco, after logging their first two-day rally in September.
The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq opened slightly higher. The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, was near 37.
Full story: US Stocks Open Higher Amid Euro Zone Hopes