Stocks opened up and stayed up, even under late selling pressure, amid more strong earnings and incoming economic data that continues to support Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's wait-and-see approach to interest rates. Risk-on sectors led the way higher, as the Nasdaq Composite posted the biggest gain among the three main indexes.
Minutes from the January Fed meeting show policymakers were divided when they voted to leave the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged last month. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members are also split on the trajectory of inflation, with Kevin Warsh set to replace Powell in May.
