US: Wall Street opens higher as Powell says rate hikes on track

[NEW YORK] US stock indexes opened higher on Wednesday (Mar 2) after a bruising start to the week, as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled the central bank would start raising rates this month despite uncertainties stemming from the Ukraine crisis.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 84.56 points, or 0.25 per cent, at the open to 33,379.51.

The S&P 500 opened higher by 16.30 points, or 0.38 per cent, at 4,322.56, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 65.07 points, or 0.48 per cent, to 13,597.53 at the opening bell. REUTERS