Stocks up slightly in early trading on Wall Street Stocks were up early following the release of positive housing and industrial production data. Richard Drew / Associated Press / May 16, 2012 May 16, 2012, 7:37 a.m. Stocks rose in early trading on Wall Street today as the government reported positive data for the housing market. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 64 points, or 0.5%, to 12,696. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index was up 8 points, or 0.6%, to 1,339. The technology-focused Nasdaq was up 10 points, or 0.4%, to 2,904. The U.S. Department of Commerce said housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 717,000, up 2.6% from a revised March estimate of 699,000. Meanwhile, Greece continued to struggle to form a government, but European stock markets were in positive territory. State contribution to CalPERS expected to rise next fiscal year