ECONOMY

US stock indexes edge higher in midday trade, a day after a sell-off; euro continues to slide

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Traders gather at the post that handles MasterCard on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. U.S. stock indexes are opening slightly higher, a day after a big sell-off prompted by worries about higher U.S. interest rates. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

Gregory Rowe, center, squeezes between fellow traders as he works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. U.S. stock indexes are opening slightly higher, a day after a big sell-off prompted by worries about higher U.S. interest rates. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, March 11, 2015. U.S. stock indexes are opening slightly higher, a day after a big sell-off prompted by worries about higher U.S. interest rates. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (The Associated Press)

U.S. stock indexes are moving slightly higher, a day after a global sell-off prompted by worries about higher U.S. interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 44 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,708 as of 11:55 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained three points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,046. The Nasdaq composite rose six points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,867.

The euro continued to slide against the dollar. It was trading at $1.06, its lowest level in 12 years.

The price of crude oil fell 51 cents to $47.78 a barrel in New York.

Bond prices fell slightly. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note edged up to 2.14 percent.