Stocks Ended Higher as Financial Shares Gained

U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday on the back of strong financial shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 37.46 points, or 0.18%, to 21,173.69. The S&P 500 rose 3.84 points, or 0.16%, to 2,433.14. The Nasdaq Composite gained 22.32 points, or 0.36%, to 6,297.38.

Oil prices settled to their lowest level in about a month Wednesday after data showed that U.S. crude stockpiles unexpectedly climbed for the first time in nine weeks. July West Texas Intermediate crude fell $2.47, or 5.1%, to settle at $45.72 a barrel. August Brent crude shed $2.06, or 4.1%, to $48.06 a barrel.

Shares of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. surged again Wednesday, putting them on course for their biggest weekly gain in four months, as upbeat comments from Apple Inc. and from a broker’s technology conference helped reignite investor interest.