Stocks Opened Higher on Trade Deal Optimism

U.S.stocks opened higher on Wednesday on continued optimism over U.S.-China trade talks. The Dow Industrial Average lately jumped 126.86 points, or 0.50%, to 25,552.62. The S&P 500 gained 12.18 points, or 0.44%, to 2,756.91. The Nasdaq Composite rose 37.07 points, or 0.50%, to 7,451.69.

A key measure of U.S. inflation was little changed in January while the broader gauge slowed on lower energy costs, underscoring the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to be patient on raising interest rates. Excluding food and energy, the so-called core consumer price index rose 0.2 percent from the prior month and 2.2 percent from a year earlier, according to a Labor Department report Wednesday.