US stocks open higher Greek optimism, deal news

FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 file photo, a pedestrian walks past the New York Stock Exchange in New York. U.S. stocks are opening higher Monday, June 22, 2015 on hopes of a breakthrough in Greece's bailout discussions with its creditors even as few tangible signs of progress emerged from meetings in Europe. (AP Photo/Jin Lee, File) FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 file photo, a pedestrian walks past the New York Stock Exchange in New York. U.S. stocks are opening higher Monday, June 22, 2015 on hopes of a breakthrough in Greece's bailout discussions with its creditors even as few tangible signs of progress emerged from meetings in Europe. (AP Photo/Jin Lee, File)

By Associated Press June 22, 2015 2 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. stocks moved higher in early trading Monday on hopes of a breakthrough in Greece’s bailout discussions with its creditors. The eurozone’s top official says creditors aim to get a deal on Greece’s bailout later in the week.

Health care stocks were among the leading gainers on deal news in the sector.

KEEPING SCORE: The Dow Jones industrial average was up 136 points, or 0.7 percent, to 18,151 as of 10:18 a.m. Eastern. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index climbed 16 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,126 and the Nasdaq composite rose 40 points, or 0.7 percent, to 5,150.

GREECE IS THE WORD: Greece and its creditors remain in tense talks. The Mediterranean nation needs more loans from its fellow eurozone states and the International Monetary Fund to enable it to make a June 30 debt payment. The country has been negotiating for four months on what economic reforms it should undertake in exchange for the loans.

ANALYST’S TAKE: “Financial markets are starting the week in the hopeful belief that a ‘last minute’ deal between the Greek government and its official creditors can be achieved,” said Neil MacKinnon, global macro strategist at VTB Capital.