U.S. stocks close higher

NEW YORK, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended higher on Monday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 86.13 points, or 0.17 percent, to 49,590.2. The S&P 500 added 10.99 points, or 0.16 percent, to 6,977.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 62.56 points, or 0.26 percent, to 23,733.9.

Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in green, with consumer staples and industrials leading the gainers by rising 1.42 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, financials and energy led the laggards by going down 0.8 percent and 0.66 percent, respectively.