Stocks Edge Higher at Close as Commodities Steady and Broader Market Rebounds

U.S. stocks closed higher Wednesday, extending gains from earlier in the session as major indexes benefited from a broadly positive market breadth and stable performance in commodities.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 231.49 points, or 0.53%, to close at 44,254.84. The S&P 500 rose 19.93 points, or 0.32%, ending the session at 6,263.69. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite increased 52.69 points, or 0.25%, to settle at 20,730.5. The Russell 2000, a benchmark for small-cap stocks, led the major averages with a 1.00% gain to 221.01.

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Market participation was robust, with advancing stocks outnumbering decliners by more than two to one. Roughly 69.3% of stocks closed in the green, while only 28.1% declined, according to Finviz data. In addition, 71.7% of stocks finished above their 50-day moving average—a sign of underlying bullish momentum—while 59.2% held above their 200-day average.

Commodity markets were relatively steady. Crude oil for August delivery (CL=F) traded at $66.56 as of 3:39 p.m. EDT, up 4 cents, or 0.06%, after a volatile session that saw prices range between $65.42 and $67.01. Volume stood at 210.6k contracts, indicating moderate trading activity.

Gold futures for August (GC=F) were firmer, climbing $17.50, or 0.52%, to $3,354.20 as of 3:33 p.m. EDT. The precious metal saw a sharp surge around midday, spiking above $3,380 before paring back gains. Volume was relatively strong at 230.05k contracts.

Wednesday’s equity gains came despite a mixed performance across sectors earlier in the day, as investors appeared to rotate into small-cap and cyclical stocks. While there were no major macroeconomic releases or earnings reports cited in the available data, the market action suggested broad-based buying interest.

Traders continued to monitor price movements in crude and gold for signals of underlying macroeconomic trends, with crude’s tight range suggesting limited concern over supply disruptions or inflationary pressures in the short term.

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With President Donald Trump in the White House, investors are also keeping a close eye on potential policy developments, particularly around trade and regulatory frameworks. However, no new announcements or statements were evident in today’s session to significantly sway market sentiment.