U.S. stocks ticked higher at midday Wednesday, buoyed by signs of progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations and cooler-than-expected inflation data, both of which supported risk appetite.
Wall Street opens the week on a quiet note, with major indexes steady as investors await potential trade breakthroughs during high-level U.S.-China talks in London.
Utility stocks hit new highs amid trade policy uncertainty, with Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund up 6.3% YTD. Constellation Energy Corp. jumps 11.87%.
