US stock indexes open slightly higher; Freescale jumps on news of deal with NXP

U.S. stocks are opening slightly higher as investors focused on earnings and deal news.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 50 points, or 0.3 percent, to 18,185 in early trading Monday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose two points to 2,106. The Nasdaq composite edged up 14 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,978.

Endo International gained 3 percent after the company reported earnings and revenue that beat analysts' forecasts.

Freescale Semiconductor jumped 10 percent after agreeing to be acquired by Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductors.

European markets edged lower as investor optimism faded over a weekend interest rate cut by the Chinese central bank.

Oil prices fell slightly. U.S. crude slipped 42 cents to $49.34 a barrel in New York.