us stocks opened higher on tuesday despite a spate of mixed corporate earnings reports which stoked fears about slowing economic growth following news of a hiring slowdown at apple the sp 500 advanced 40 points or 1 to 3869 the dow jones industrial average climbed 210 points or 07 to 31286 the nasdaq composite added 150 points or 13 to 11513 stocks finished lower on monday after trading higher earlier in the session as reports of a hiring slowdown at apple added to fears about slowing global economic growth