Markets turn higher

U.S. stock indexes scratched for higher ground Tuesday morning as investors remained focused on the financial crisis in Europe. After accepting a $125 billion bailout on behalf of its banks over the weekend, Spain saw its yields on its 10-year benchmark government bonds rise Monday. Yields also rose Monday in Italy, where there is fear that the spreading crisis in confidence could accelerate. In midmorning trading, stock markets rose in New York, the Dow Jones industrial average gaining 38.34 points, 0.31 percent, to 12,449.57. The Nasdaq composite index added 2.76 points or 0.1 percent to 2,812.49. The Standard and Poor's 500 gained 3.18 points or 0.18 percent to 1,312.11. The benchmark 10-year treasury note fell 11/32 to yield 1.628 percent. The euro fell to $1.2463 from Monday's $1.2482. Against the yen, the dollar rose to 79.49 yen from 79.44 yen. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index lost 1.02 percent, 88.18 points, to 8,536.72.