Stocks Ended Higher after Fed Meeting Minutes

U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday as investors digested minutes detailing the deliberations from the Federal Open Market Committee’s latest meeting. The Dow Industrial Average rose 63.12 points, or 0.24%, to 25,954.44. The S&P 500 was up 4.94 points, or 0.18%, to 2,784.70. The Nasdaq Composite gained 2.30 points, or 0.03%, to 7,489.07.

Oil futures marked their highest finish in three months on Wednesday, as signs of tighter global crude supplies outweigh pressure from a continued rise in U.S. production. March WTI crude oil tacked on 83 cents, or 1.5%, to settle at $56.92 a barrel. April Brent rose 63 cents, or about 1%, to $67.08 a barrel.

Federal Reserve officials were divided on the need to raise near-term rate increases last month, according to its January meeting minutes released Wednesday afternoon.