Wall Street opens higher after private jobs data

US stocks opened higher on Wednesday after data showed private sector hiring in July rose the least since April, increasing the chances of the U.S. Federal Reserve holding back on a rate hike until December.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 6.89 points, or 0.04 percent, to 17,557.58, the S&P 500 gained 8.02 points, or 0.38 percent, to 2,101.34 and the Nasdaq composite added 27.75 points, or 0.54 percent, to 5,133.29.