NEW YORK - US STOCKS opened little changed on Tuesday as a stronger-than-expected profit report from financial giant Goldman Sachs helped traders overlook mixed economic reports.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained a fractional 0.83 point (0.01 per cent) to 8,332.51 in the first 10 minutes after a strong rally on Monday.

The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite dipped 3.09 points (0.17 per cent) to 1,790.12 while the broad-market Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up 0.12 point (0.01 per cent) to 901.17.

Market action came after US finance giant Goldman Sachs posted a net profit of US$3.44 billion (S$5.02 billion) in the second quarter, topping market expectations.

Scott Marcouiller at Wells Fargo Advisors said Goldman's earnings 'beat expectations, but there was a muted response in the stock as it was largely discounted yesterday.'

The market also reacted to news that US retail sales rose for the second consecutive month in June, by 0.6 per cent, but with gasoline sales accounting for much of the increase due to higher prices.

The report highlighted the 'uneven, and uncertain, nature of the recovery process,' said Patrick O'Hare at Briefing.com. -- AFP