U.S. stocks closed mixed Wednesday as Wall Street pondered over the minutes from the Federal Reserve's June meeting.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 1.10 points, or 0.01 percent, to 21,478.17. The S&P 500 rose 3.53 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,432.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 40.80 points, or 0.67 percent, to 6,150.86.
According to the minutes released Wednesday, the information reviewed for the June meeting showed that labor market conditions continued to strengthen in recent months and suggested that real gross domestic product (GDP) was expanding at a faster pace in the second quarter than in the first quarter.
"Members agreed that, in determining the timing and size of future adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee would assess realized and expected economic conditions relative to its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation," said the minutes.
Meanwhile, the minutes also showed that Fed officials believe the central bank's massive 4.5-trillion-U.S.-dollar balance sheet can be reduced with "limited" disruption to financial markets.
On the economic front, U.S. new orders for manufactured goods in May, down two consecutive months, decreased 3.7 billion dollars, or 0.8 percent, to 464.9 billion dollars, missing market consensus, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.
U.S. stock markets closed on Tuesday for the Independence Day holiday.
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