Retail sales lift Wall St at open

U.S. stocks opened up slightly on Thursday as retailers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research), posted higher-than-expected monthly sales figures.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI was up 33.87 points, or 0.26 percent, at 12,848.22. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX was up 3.05 points, or 0.22 percent, at 1,395.62. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was up 11.78 points, or 0.48 percent, at 2,450.27.

(Agencies)