NEW YORK, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks opened slightly higher Monday as Wall Street digested political uncertainty in Germany.
The three-party exploratory talks for the formation of Germany's new government failed late Sunday night after the Free Democratic Party (FDP) pulled out due to unbridgeable differences in immigration and energy.
FDP leader Christian Lindner said after the decision that there was no "basis of trust" with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's bloc of Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) and the Green Party.
Merkel is now facing the biggest political crisis since she took office 12 years ago. If the FDP refuses to rejoin the talks, Merkel may have to form a minority coalition or hold a new election.
Meanwhile, investors kept a close eye on U.S. tax reform plan. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Friday that he expects a Republican tax reform bill to be sent to U.S. President Donald Trump by Christmas this year.
There is no major economic data due Monday.
Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 14.37 points, or 0.06 percent, to 23,372.61. The S&P 500 edged up 0.51 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,579.36. The Nasdaq Composite Index added 3.66 points, or 0.05 percent, to 6,786.45.
U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday as traders looked into the tax reform progress in the country. Enditem
