NEW YORK (AP) - U.S. stocks finished slightly higher on Wednesday as investors picked stocks that pay big dividends, like real estate and phone companies. Energy companies fell with the price of oil and health care stocks continued to slide.
Stocks barely budged for most of the day. The top gains went to the biggest dividend-payers, which are seen as relatively safe investments. The price of oil, which reached a 15-month high on Monday, inched lower for the second day in a row. Health care stocks continued to lose ground after health insurer Humana said its bonus payments from Medicare could be reduced.
Investors opted for safety a day after some weak earnings reports sent stocks sharply lower.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 15.54 points, or 0.1 percent, to 18,144.20. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 2.45 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,139.18. The Nasdaq composite slipped 7.77 points, or 0.1 percent, to 5,239.02.
Investors bought big dividend payers like real estate investment trust and utilities. Those stocks are the worst performers on the market over the last three months. Early in the year those stocks soared as investors looked for safe picks while the market tumbled.