US stocks eked out a gain Wednesday as investors focused on the positive aspects of the latest batch of data that showed the US economy plodding along.

    The S&P 500 SPX, +0.11% edged up 2.37 points, or 0.1%, to close at 2,099.33. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.01% recovered from a more than 120-point drop to end 2.47 points higher, or less than 0.1%, at 17,789.67. 

    Meanwhile, the Nasdaq Composite COMP, +0.08% rose 4.20 points, or 0.1%, to close at 4,952.25.