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United States markets were slightly higher in early trading on Tuesday as investors traded cautiously before Britains referendum on European Union membership later this week.

KEEPING SCORE The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.12 percent and the Standard & Poors 500-stock index was up 0.14 percent. The Nasdaq composite index gained 0.22 percent.

EARLY MOVERS Technology stocks made the biggest gains: Facebook stock rose 1 percent. Shares of energy companies fell as the price of oil dropped 2 percent. Chesapeake Energy stock lost 3 percent. Shares of the X-ray inspection systems maker American Science & Engineering surged 14 percent after OSI Systems agreed to buy it for about $264 million.

EUROPEAN MARKETS In Germany, the DAX gained 0.6 percent and in France, the CAC 40 was up 0.6 percent. The FTSE 100 was up 0.1 percent in Britain.

BREXIT Opinion polls and betting markets indicate that Britons are more likely to vote to remain in the European Union in a referendum on Thursday. Many believe a departure, known informally as Brexit, would hurt the British and European economies and possibly encourage other countries to leave. Uncertainty about the outcome has weighed on global markets. The vote is expected to be close.

Continue reading the main storyFED WATCH The Federal Reserve chairwoman, Janet L. Yellen, is to give a semiannual report on the American economy to the Senate. The Fed suggested in a statement after its latest policy meeting that it needed a clearer economic picture before resuming interest rate increases that it began in December. Some economists think a July increase is possible if the job market rebounds from a dismal May and financial markets remain calm after Britains European Union vote.

ASIAS DAY The Nikkei 225 ended up 1.3 percent in Japan, while in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng gained 0.7 percent. The Shanghai composite index lost 0.4 percent in China. The Kospi was up 0.1 percent in South Korea. In Australia, the S.&P./ASX 200 added 0.3 percent, while the Sensex in India was off 0.4 percent. Benchmarks in Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia also gained, while those in New Zealand and Singapore retreated.

ENERGY Benchmark United States crude shed 60 cents to $48.77 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract soared $1.40 on Monday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, fell 67 cents to $50.62 in London. It gained $1.48 on Monday.

CURRENCIES AND BONDS The pound continued to strengthen on the view that Britain was more likely to vote to reject leaving the European Union. It was up another 0.3 percent, adding to big gains on Monday, to $1.4737 its highest level since early January. The dollar rose to 104.72 yen from Mondays 103.85 yen. The euro edged down to $1.1320 from $1.1323. Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell to 1.67 percent.

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