US STOCKS SNAPSHOT-Dow opens higher as Home Depot puts focus on retail earnings

Aug 19 (Reuters) - The blue-chip Dow opened higher on Tuesday, aided by a rise in shares of Home Depot after the retailer kept its annual forecasts intact, while caution dominated the overall mood ahead of a key Federal Reserve conference scheduled later in the week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 40.5 points, or 0.09%, at the open to 44,952.36. The S&P 500 .SPX fell 2.9 points, or 0.05%, at the open to 6,446.24​, while the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 22.3 points, or 0.10%, to 21,607.452 at the opening bell.