Stocks opened higher on Friday after French President Nicolas Sarkozy hinted at a deal to resolve the Greek debt crisis that has hampered equities and worried investors over a possible credit dry-up.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 98.39 points, or 0.82 percent, at 12,059.91. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> was up 11.39 points, or 0.90 percent, at 1,279.03. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> was up 24.61 points, or 0.94 percent, at 2,648.31.

(Reporting by Ryan Vlastelica)