US stocks gained on Wednesday as a tame increase in core consumer prices suggested that the Federal Reserve may choose to keep interest rates unchanged in the short term. Apparel retailers were in the spotlight after Abercrombie & Fitch Co posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit and Talbots Inc reported a smaller-than-expected loss.
The Dow Jones industrial average was up 50.35 points, or 0.45 percent, at 11,280.61. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 5.43 points, or 0.42 percent, at 1,291.01. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 13.70 points, or 0.65 percent, at 2,128.71.