Stocks edge higher in early trading as falling oil prices help take pressure off the market

Stocks inched higher on Wall Street as falling oil prices and lower bond yields eased pressure on investors, helping take the edge off recent declines. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% in early trading Wednesday, while the Dow added 76 points (0.1%) and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.4%. The move came after two sessions of losses tied largely to weakness in Big Tech. Chipmaker Micron, which fell more than 13% on Tuesday, gained 3.2% overnight, and Marvell Technology rose 1.5% after a 9.4% drop the prior day. Oil prices fell as Iran-war tensions moderated, with Brent down 3.9% to $75.21 a barrel and U.S. crude down 1.67% to $71.54. Gold slipped below $4,000 an ounce for the first time since November.