Equity worldwide rose on Wednesday with the S&P 500 hitting a record high on hopes that a resolution will be reached between Ukraine and Russia. The euro rebounded from a 1-year low against the dollar on expectations for more European Central Bank stimulus.
Speculation of a possible cease-fire in eastern Ukraine reassured investors reducing bets on safe-haven US Treasuries. Oil prices rose.
Asian shares steadied near seven-year highs. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan eased 0.1 percent after a brief rise to a seven-year high while Japan's Nikkei average shed 0.2 percent from seven-month highs the previous day.
European shares rose ahead of the ECB;s policy meeting on Thursday on speculation the central bank might be compelled to launch an asset-purchase program to boost inflation in the euro zone.
The Dow Jones Industrial average rose 29.23 points or 0.17% at 17,096.79 in afternoon trading. The S&P 500 Index was down 0.09 points at 2,2002.19 while the Nasdaq Composite Index was down 18.90points at 4,579.20.
U.S. shares were dragged down by a fall in Apple, which was hit by concerns over a possible security breach of its iCloud service a week before the launch of its new iPhone and as rival Samsung Electronics Co Ltd launched a new product.