US stocks drift higher as optimism fades

NEW YORK: US stocks drifted slightly higher Wednesday after optimism over upbeat company earnings and an imminent rescue deal for debt-wracked Greece faded.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 4.69 points (0.04 percent) to 12,882.89 in closing trade.

The broad-based S&P 500 rose 2.94 points (0.22 percent) to 1,349.99, while the Nasdaq Composite added 11.78 points (0.41 percent) to 2,915.86.

Trade was lackluster amid a dearth of headlines, Briefing.com analysts said.

"Markets lost their footing as investors await developments out of Europe," said Wells Fargo Advisors analysts.