U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Monday as investors weighed a fresh round of corporate earnings and looked ahead to the Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes. Trading was cautious, with market participants waiting for clues on the central bank’s next moves.

The modest gains came as bond markets remained relatively stable, suggesting investors were not rushing to reposition ahead of the policy update. The tone across markets reflected a familiar wait-and-see mood, with traders focusing on whether the Fed’s comments will shift expectations for interest rates.

Earnings reports also remained in view, with companies’ results helping shape sentiment at the start of the week. Even with limited movement in the major indexes, investors appeared to be assessing how economic signals and monetary policy could affect markets in the months ahead.

Analysts say the coming Fed minutes could offer a clearer picture of how policymakers view inflation, growth, and the path forward for borrowing costs. Until then, Wall Street looks set to trade cautiously as markets balance corporate performance against monetary-policy uncertainty.