U.S. stocks close higher

NEW YORK, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 39.55 points, or 0.09 percent, to 42,196.52. The S&P 500 added 0.79 points, or 0.01 percent, to 5,709.54. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 14.76 points, or 0.08 percent, to 17,925.12.

Seven of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in red, with consumer discretionary and consumer staples leading the laggards by losing 0.78 percent respectively. Meanwhile, energy and technology led the gainers by going up 1.12 percent and 0.59 percent, respectively.