Stocks opened higher on Tuesday, building on Monday's gains as optimism about the economy remained intact.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 16.88 points, or 0.14 percent, at 11,687.63. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 1.40 points, or 0.11 percent, at 1,273.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 8.77 points, or 0.33 percent, at 2,700.29.

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)