By Kristina Peterson

U.S. stocks opened higher on Tuesday as rising oil and metals prices boosted materials and energy stocks and the dollar weakened.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 40 points, or 0.4%, at 10,444 in early trading. Rising prices for crude oil and metals helped boost materials and industrial stocks including Alcoa (AA), up 1% and heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar (CAT), up 1.2%. Boeing (BA) was the measure's top performer, up 1.5%.

Weighing on the Dow, Wal-Mart (WMT) slid 0.5%.

The Nasdaq Composite (RIXF) gained 0.4%. The Standard & Poor's 500-share index (SPX) rose 0.4%, with all but one of its sectors in the black. Utilities, materials and industrials posted the biggest gains. Only telecommunications slipped in and out of the red.

Auto makers will likely grab attention on Tuesday, as February sales figures are released. Toyota's (TM) string of recalls last month, combined with bad weather, likely dragged down February sales, economists predicted. Adding to the industry's woes, General Motors recalled 1.3 million compact cars over power-steering trouble.

But some companies are expected to benefit from their competitors' troubles. Ford (F) shares opened up 1.4% on Tuesday at their highest price since February 2005.

Meanwhile, assuaging some concerns over weakness in the euro zone, the Greek government is expected to outline on Wednesday a new austerity package of around 4 billion euros in an effort to cut its huge budget deficit by four percentage points this year, government officials said Tuesday. Greece's debt management agency is also preparing a 10-year bond hoping to raise between 3 billion and 5 billion euros, another official said.

Among stocks in focus, fertilizer maker Terra Industries (TRA) jumped nearly 13% after CF Industries Holdings (CF) resumed its pursuit of the company with a $4.72 billion offer that seeks to break up the agreed bid from Norway's Yara International .

Qualcomm (QCOM) rose 3% after increasing its stock buyback authority and increasing its dividend by 12%.

In other markets, the dollar weakened against both the yen and the euro. Crude-oil futures rose, while gold futures also climbed. Treasurys (TNX) edged down with the 10-year note off 8/32 to yield 3.638%.