US stocks closed slightly higher Wednesday after sharply paring earlier losses as minutes from the Federal Reserve's July meeting showed policy makers remained divided on prospects for a near-term rate increase.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.12% rose 21.92 points, or 0.1%, to close at 18,573.94, after being down as many as 83 points earlier in session. The S&P 500 index SPX, +0.19% rose 4.07 points, or 0.2%, to close at 2,182.22, overcoming an earlier 10-point deficit. Seven out of 10 sectors closed higher, led by gains in utilities and financial stocks. Tech, consumer-discretionary, and materials stocks closed lower.

    Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.03% finished up 1.55 points at 5,228.66, after being down about 30 points earlier