Stocks closed higher, gaining strength in the last hour of trading after struggling to find direction throughout a session marked by mixed economic news.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 46.24 points, or 0.4 percent, to 10,572.73.

The S&P 500 rose 3.97 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,125.07, while the Nasdaq rose 11.55 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,301.32. The CBOE Volatility Index, widely considered the best gauge of fear in the market, rose above 22.

The market has been bound in a trading range since May, with the S&P failing to break beyond 1,130. The bias, however, has tilted higher lately, with all major indexes in positive territory for the year. Wednesday’s action added to September’s gains for all the major indexes.

(Source: CNBC)