U.S. stocks opened higher on Tuesday as solid manufacturing data in Europe helped investors refocus attentions from the maelstrom in the Middle East to hopes that a global economic recovery was on track.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 33.64 points, or 0.28 percent, at 11,925.57. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 3.02 points, or 0.23 percent, at 1,289.14. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 17.81 points, or 0.66 percent, at 2,717.89.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)