NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks rose at the open on Thursday, following a rally in the prior session, on expectations of progress toward a fiscal agreement in Washington that would prevent a possible recession.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 35.40 points, or 0.27 percent, to 13,020.51. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index .SPX added 5.33 points, or 0.38 percent, to 1,415.26. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC rose 16.14 points, or 0.54 percent, to 3,007.91.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Bernadette Baum)