US stock markets close higher as Bed Bath & Beyond stocks rise sharply

Frankfort, New York After the losses of the past few days, the US stock exchanges have recovered slightly in the run-up to the eagerly awaited central bank meeting in Jackson Hole. The Dow Jones index closed 0.2 percent higher on Wednesday at 32,969 points. The tech-heavy Nasdaq advanced 0.4 percent to 12,431 points. The broad S&P 500 gained 0.3 percent to 4140 points. “Traders are hesitant to get more exposure amid fears of being crushed by a more aggressive Fed,” said Marios Hadjikyriacos, an analyst at brokerage XM.