U.S. stocks close higher as investors digest earnings

NEW YORK, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday, as investors continued to digest corporate earnings reports and economic data, while keeping an eye on geopolitical developments and trade tensions.

Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 317.24 points, or 0.71, to 44,873.28. The S&P 500 gained 23.60 points, or 0.39 percent, reaching 6,061.48, while the Nasdaq Composite edged up 38.31 points, or 0.19