India, Aug. 14 -- The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened almost unchanged on Friday as investors assessed fresh economic data, Federal Reserve interest-rate expectations and ongoing developments in the Middle East.

At the opening bell, the Dow Jones rose 2.8 points, or 0.01%, to 53,842.8. The cautious start came after the S&P 500 closed at a record high in the previous session, keeping investors focused on whether the broader market rally can continue.

Dow Jones Today: Why Is The Dow Moving Higher?

The Dow Jones opened with only a marginal gain as investors digested the latest retail sales data and considered what the economic figures could mean for the Federal Reserve's monetary policy.

The blue-chip index's muted movement reflects ...