Stocks rose at the open on Tuesday as positive developments in European financials helped bank shares and investors shrugged off a drop in home prices as having already been priced in to the markets.

U.S. home prices fell a record 19 percent in January.

The Dow Jones industrial average (.DJI) rose 75.90 points, or 1.01 percent, to 7,597.92. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index (.SPX) gained 8.36 points, or 1.06 percent, to 795.89. The Nasdaq Composite Index (.IXIC) added 22.27 points, or 1.48 percent, to 1,524.07.