Stocks edge higher this morning

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in early trading today as new Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen signaled the central bank would continue to dial back its stimulus program if the economy keeps improving.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 55 points, or 0.4 percent, to 15,856 as of 9:50 a.m. EST. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose five points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,805 and the Nasdaq composite rose 11 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4,159.