U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Friday as investors sought to determine whether a pullback is on the horizon after a 6-month rally and braced for options expiration.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> opened up 52.83 points, or 0.54 percent, at 9,836.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> gained 4.70 points, or 0.44 percent, at 1,070.19. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 8.95 points, or 0.42 percent, at 2,135.70.

(Reporting by Angela Moon, Editing Jeffrey Benkoe)