Stocks Edged Up ahead of Fed Minutes

U.S. stocks opened slightly higher on Wednesday as investors awaited minutes from the Federal Reserve’s rate-setting meeting last month that led to a major reversal in policy for the central bank. The Dow Industrial Average lately rose 5.40 points, or 0.02%, to 25,896.72. The S&P 500 was up 0.13 points, to 2,779.89. The Nasdaq Composite gained 13.40 points, or 0.18%, to 7,500.17.

Crude-oil futures fell early Wednesday amid fresh signs of rising U.S. output. March West Texas Intermediate crude oil slipped 30 cents, or 0.5%, at $55.79 a barrel. April Brent fell 57 cents, or 0.8%, at $65.88 a barrel.

President Donald Trump gave his firmest indication yet that the U.S. may not increase tariffs on Chinese goods on March 1, as scheduled, despite statements by his top trade official that the U.S. should stick to a firm deadline.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. (GLDD) on Wednesday reported a loss of $7.7 million in its fourth quarter and revenue of $173.2 million in the period. For the year, the company reported that its loss narrowed to $6.3 million, or 10 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $620.8 million.