U.S. markets rose slightly Tuesday after a closely watched index on U.S. home prices showed April prices declined, but not as much as expected.
Home prices in the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index showed an annual decline in April of 1.9 percent. Economists had expected a 2.5 percent drop.
Investors also remain wary of developments in Europe. On Monday, Cyprus followed Spain with a request for international assistance.
In early afternoon trading Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 19.68 points or 0.16 percent to 12,522.34. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 5.02 points or 0.38 percent to 1,318.74. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index gained 11.06 points or 0.39 percent to 2,847.22.
The benchmark 10-year treasury note fell 4/32 to yield 1.62 percent.
The euro fell to $1.2486 from Monday's $1.2504. Against the yen, the dollar fell to 79.48 yen from Monday's 79.67 yen.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index shed 0.81 percent, 70.63, to 8,663.99.
In London, the FTSE 100 index dropped 0.07 percent, 3.69, to 5,446.96.
