Markets Right Now: Stocks slightly higher, led by energy

NEW YORK (AP) — The latest on developments in financial markets (all times local):

11:50 a.m.

U.S. stocks are mostly higher at midday as energy companies rise along with oil prices.

ConocoPhillips rose 1.5 percent Tuesday and Chevron added 0.5 percent.

High-dividend stocks like utilities fell as interest rates increased. The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates Wednesday, and higher rates make bonds more appealing compared to stocks.

Facebook slid 0.8 percent after the founders of Instagram said they are leaving the company.

The S&P 500 index added 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,921.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 26 points, or 0.1 percent, to 26,588. The Nasdaq composite gained 16 points, or 0.2 percent, to 8,009.

Bond prices continued to fall. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.10 percent.

____

9:35 a.m.

Stocks are opening slightly higher as energy companies rise with oil prices.

Benchmark U.S. crude rose 0.7 percent to $732.59 a barrel, its highest in about three months. Chevron gained 1 percent.

Facebook fell 2.5 percent after the founders of Instagram said they are leaving the company.

Interest rates neared their highest levels of the year as the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates Wednesday.

The S&P 500 index added 2 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,921.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 51 points, or 0.2 percent, to 26,613. The Nasdaq composite dipped 1 point to 7,991.

Bond prices continued to fall. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 3.10 percent.