India, Aug. 14 -- The S&P 500 opened slightly higher on Friday as investors assessed fresh retail sales data, Federal Reserve interest-rate expectations and ongoing developments in the Middle East. The cautious move came a day after the benchmark closed at a record high.

At the opening bell, the S&P 500 gained 7.6 points, or 0.10%, to 7,806.6. Investors remained focused on whether economic data could influence the Federal Reserve's future monetary-policy decisions.

S&P 500 Today: Why Is The Index Moving Higher?

The S&P 500 started Friday's session with a modest gain as investors weighed the latest economic indicators and their potential impact on interest-rate expectations.

The index's move followed another record close on Thursday, h...