NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are opening mixed on Wall Street after the surprise resignation of Italy's prime minister sent a jolt through European markets. McDonald's rose after reporting stronger sales. The Dow Jones industrial average inched up seven points to 13,162 shortly after the opening bell Monday. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index was down a fraction of a point at 1,417. The Nasdaq composite was up a fraction at 2,978. The departure of Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti surprised markets. Monti was credited with restoring confidence in Italy's rattled economy. Italy's benchmark stock index dropped 3 percent and the yields on Italy's government bonds rose as investors sold them. Monti said he can't lead the country after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's party dropped its support. |