US stock market opens higher

NEW YORK (AA) - The U.S. stock market opened higher Friday as macroeconomic data came in line with market expectations.

The Dow Jones added 129 points to open at 18,228. The S&P 500 was up by 11 points to 2,144 and the Nasdaq rose 30 points to reach 5,243.

Retail sales increased 0.6 percent in September, from the previous month, to reach $459.8 billion, according to Department of Commerce earlier Friday.

The sales did not only meet market expectations of a 0.6 percent increase, but were also the highest monthly gain in the last three months.

Markets and investors will focus on the speech of Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen later Friday.