US stocks open higher as investors wait on Fed

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are opening higher ahead of the conclusion of a meeting of Federal Reserve policymakers.

Investors are waiting for a policy statement from the Fed that could indicate if it is moving closer to raising its benchmark interest rate.

Early gains were led by energy stocks as oil prices rose.

The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 56 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,960 as of 9:37 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose six points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,102. The Nasdaq composite gained 16 points, or 0.3 percent, to 5,071.

European markets fell as investors fretted over the financial future of Greece.

Bond prices edged lower. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 2.33 percent from 2.31 percent a day earlier.