U.S. stocks rose on Monday as shares of home improvement retailers gained after Lowe's Cos. reported higher quarterly profit and a slip in oil prices eased concerns about consumer spending. Shares of Citigroup rose 45 cents to $46.36 on the New York Stock Exchange after financial weekly Barron's said the financial services group's dividend is likely to rise in the next year and its stock price could climb 20 percent to more than $55. For more details nN15407610, Reuters said. Home-improvement retailer Home Depot Inc. was the biggest gainer on the Dow Jones industrial average in early trading, rising 1.76 percent to $36.93 after rival Lowe's reported that quarterly profits rose but missed estimates. Lowe's shares rose 3 percent on the NYSE to $54.45. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 37.84 points, or 0.37 percent, at 10,177.96. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 4.29 points, or 0.37 percent, at 1,158.34. The technology-laced Nasdaq Composite Index was up 3.62 points, or 0.18 percent, at 1,980.40. --More 2315 Local Time 2015 GMT
