Wall St opens slightly higher

the S&P 500 was within striking distance of its recent record high

US stocks opened with slight gains on Tuesday as investors continued to be cautious amid persisting tensions in Ukraine, while the S&P 500 was within striking distance of its recent record high.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 14.52 points, or 0.09 percent, at 16,433.20. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 2.18 points, or 0.12 percent, at 1,879.35. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 8.21 points, or 0.19 percent, at 4,342.66.