U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Tuesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. economy appeared to have enough momentum to avoid a double-dip recession.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 0.68 points, or 0.01 percent, at 9,817.17. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 0.34 points, or 0.03 percent, at 1,050.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 2.52 points, or 0.12 percent, at 2,176.42.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)

Ben Bernanke