US stocks open higher as tensions ease in Ukraine; Kinder Morgan jumps on deal news

U.S. stocks are opening higher as tensions ease in Ukraine.

Russia called an end to military exercises near Ukraine and withdrew troops to their bases.

Investors were also pleased by the latest news in corporate combinations.

Kinder Morgan jumped 9 percent following news that a group of oil and gas pipeline and storage companies controlled by Kinder Morgan will combine.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose five points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,936 in the first few minutes of trading Monday.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 30 points, or 0.2 percent, to 16,585. The Nasdaq composite rose 14 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,385.

Bond prices were little changed. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note held steady at 2.42 percent.