U.S. stocks ended higher on Wednesday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 314.67 points, or 0.67 percent, to 47,427.12. The S&P 500 gained 46.73 points, or 0.69 percent, to 6,812.61. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 189.1 points, or 0.82 percent, to close at 23,214.69. Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended higher, with utilities and technology leading the gainers by rising 1.32 percent and 1.27 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, communication services and health led the laggards by losing 0.49 percent and 0.25 percent, respectively.
US stocks close higher
Influenza activity in China has declined for four consecutive weeks, with recent tests showing common pathogens and no evidence of new infectious diseases, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Tuesday.
At its first press briefing of 2026, the commission reported that flu activity nationwide remains moderate at the moment.
According to Xin Li, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, respiratory samples collected from sentinel hospitals indicated that the influenza virus was the most common pathogen, accounting for 27.4 percent of cases, followed by respiratory syncytial virus at 8.8 percent and rhinovirus at 5.7 percent.
"Influenza activity in China has declined for four consecutive weeks and remains at a moderate level overall. Analysis of nationwide fever clinic consultations, influenza-like illness cases at sentinel hospitals, and multi-pathogen testing shows that all detected pathogens are known common ones, with no evidence of unknown pathogens or new infectious diseases," Xin told the press.
Data from sentinel hospitals indicated flu activity was falling across provincial-level regions, while reports of school outbreaks dropped for five consecutive weeks. Laboratory tests showed that 97.3 percent of positive influenza samples were H3N2 subtype viruses.
China flu activity declines for fourth week, no new pathogens detected: official
