BLUE-chip stocks rose yesterday in a three-hour session shortened by a crippling blizzard in the North-east, as investors bought stocks of consumer products and energy companies. The Dow Jones industrial average ended up 16.25 points at 5,197.68 after the New York Stock Exchange opened 90 minutes late at 11 a.m.

In the broader market, declining issues led advances 1,259 to 882 on light volume of 130 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

The NYSE, American Stock Exchange, Philadelphia Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq stock market all closed early at 2 p.m. as the snow storm swept the North-east, keeping many offices closed or minimally staffed.

While many analysts dismissed yesterday as a throwaway session because of the low attendance and volume, they also cheered the market's positive breadth.

The Wilshire Associates Equity Index - market value of NYSE, American and Nasdaq issues - was 6,049.1, up 12.7.