Stocks were little changed and the Nasdaq rose in early trading on Tuesday lifted by a near 4 percent rise in shares of iPhone maker Apple Inc , following a broker upgrade.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 12.98 points, or 0.16 percent, to 8,290.30. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 0.65 points, or 0.07 percent, to 887.65. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 12.49 points, or 0.74 percent, to 1,704.50.

(Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)

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