U.S. stocks opened higher Wednesday as investors digested the latest corporate news ahead of the release of minutes from the Federal Reserve’s meeting. The Dow Industrials and S&P 500 fell for the first time in seven sessions on Tuesday. Despite stock-market volatility earlier this month, many investors say robust corporate earnings should help major indexes climb as the year goes on. The Fed held its benchmark interest rate steady in January but offered nothing to dispel expectations for several more rate increases this year if the economy progresses as anticipated. Spanish utilities company Iberdrola was off 3.9% after it announced its net profit fell in the fourth quarter.

Source: Wall Street Journal February 21, 2018 02:13 UTC