Stocks Ended Higher on Renewed Trade Optimism

U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday as investors hoped for an easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 181.97 points, or 0.70%, to 26,346.01. The S&P 500 gained 26.34 points, or 0.91%, to 2,919.40. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 79.96 points, or 1.02%, to 7,903.74.

U.S. oil futures settled slightly lower Wednesday, as minutes from the Federal Reserve’s September meeting raised worries about the economy and government data revealed a fourth straight rise in domestic crude supplies. West Texas Intermediate crude for November delivery fell by 4 cents, or 0.08%, to settle at $52.59 a barrel. December Brent crude added 8 cents, or 0.1%, to end at $58.32 a barrel.

Federal Reserve officials were more worried about the U.S. economy by the time they met in mid-September, according to minutes of the central bank’s meeting released Wednesday.