US stocks edge up as IMF confirms global growth forecast

New York - Wall Street stocks opened modestly higher on Tuesday as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) kept its 2017 forecast unchanged but warned that rising protectionism could crimp growth.

The IMF maintained its growth forecast at 3.1% next year, as it predicted incrementally stronger activity in Japan and the eurozone would compensate for slower growth in the US.

But it also warned that rising anti-trade sentiment in advanced countries could pull growth lower.

Five minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stood at 18 285.35, up 0.2%.

The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 0.1% to 2 163.59, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 0.3% to 5 316.48.