(Reuters) - U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Monday as data showed consumer spending in June recorded its smallest gain in four months, bolstering expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve may hold back on a rate increase.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 9.15 points, or 0.05 percent, to 17,699.01, the S&P 500 <.SPX> gained 1.39 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,105.23 and the Nasdaq composite <.IXIC> added 9.11 points, or 0.18 percent, to 5,137.39.
(Reporting by Abinaya Vijayaraghavan in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
