Wall Street opens higher on Europe data

Stocks opened higher on Friday, spurred by positive economic data from Europe, as investors eyed a U.S. report on existing home sales and a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the lessons from the financial crisis, both expected at 10 a.m.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 57.89 points, or 0.62 percent, to 9,407.94. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 7.18 points, or 0.71 percent, to 1,014.55. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 11.64 points, or 0.59 percent, to 2,000.86.

(Editing by Padraic Cassidy)