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Market Recap | Stocks End Higher as Investors Mull Economic Data, Fed Minutes

U.S. stocks rose Thursday as investors parsed earnings reports, economic data and minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting for clues about the trajectory of the economy and interest rates.

The $S&P 500 index(.SPX.US)$ rose about 0.2% in 4 p.m. trading, after closing lower Wednesday. The $Dow Jones Industrial Average(.DJI.US)$ ticked up about 18 points, or around 0.1%. The $Nasdaq Composite Index(.IXIC.US)$ added about 0.2%.

Stock indexes have climbed in recent weeks on signs that inflation was moderating and hopes that the Fed would ease off from its aggressive campaign of rate rises.

The rally -- which had pushed the S&P 500 to its highest level since April -- has been tempered after minutes from the Fed's July meeting, released Wednesday, indicated that policy makers could keep raising rates to curb inflation. Still, officials said they would be cautious, acknowledging the risk that too much tightening could cause economic pain.

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