US Stocks close slightly Higher

US stocks closed slightly higher Wednesday after sharply paring earlier losses as minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed policy makers remained divided on prospects for a near-term rate increase.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.12% rose 21.92 points, or 0.1%, to close at 18,573.94, after being down as many as 83 points earlier in session. The S&P 500 index SPX, +0.19% rose 4.07 points, or 0.2%, to close at 2,182.22, overcoming an earlier 10-point deficit. Seven out of 10 sectors closed higher, led by gains in utilities and financial stocks. Tech, consumer-discretionary, and materials stocks closed lower.

    Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.03% finished up 1.55 points at 5,228.66, after being down about 30 points earlier