Stocks edge higher after drifting in early trade

By Alex Veiga

Published May 19, 2014 8:54pm ET

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Stocks edge higher after drifting in early trade — Traders gather at the post that handles AT&T on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, May 19, 2014. Priming itself for the age of Internet-delivered video, AT&T Inc. said it would buy DirecTV for $48.5 billion in cash and stock, or $95 per share. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) | Richard Drew

Stocks finished slightly higher on Monday, adding to the small gains the market carved out at the end of last week.

A dearth of fresh economic data had many investors focusing on headline-grabbing corporate deals, including a $48.5 billion bid by AT&T to acquire satellite TV provider DirecTV and a joint venture between Johnson Controls and a Chinese company that will form the world’s largest maker of automotive interiors.

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