Stocks open slightly higher

NEW YORK (AP) Stock prices are modestly higher in the first few minutes of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 76 points in today's early going.

The Nasdaq Composite Index is ahead 16 points and the Standard-and-Poor's 500 Stock Index is up 11 points.

Wall Street is coming off of yesterday's huge drop in stock prices, including the Dow's fourth-worst point loss.

Ford, Chrysler and General Motors are expected to submit their plans to Congress, which is considering the automakers' request for $25 billion in government support. Automakers today are also to report their November sales figures, expected to be down from a year ago, but not as bad as seen in October.

Sears Holdings Corp. posted a larger-than-expected loss for the third quarter. It also withdrew its operating profit outlook because of the nation's recession. The parent of Sears and Kmart is boosting its stock buyback plan.

Homebuilder Beazer Homes USA says its fiscal fourth-quarter loss more than tripled as revenue plunged. Atlanta-based Beazer says demand for new homes is weak because of low consumer confidence, falling prices, high levels of unsold new and existing homes and lack of access to mortgage financing.