Stocks opened slightly higher on Tuesday after a report showed the price of U.S. homes in April fell at a lower-than-anticipated pace, while investors awaited data on consumer confidence and business activity.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 9.75 points, or 0.11 percent, to 8,539.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 0.64 points, or 0.07 percent, to 927.87. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 8.13 points, or 0.44 percent, to 1,852.19.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)