S&P 500 Index opens flat as focus shifts to FOMC Minutes

• Wall Street's main indexes trade mixed on Wednesday.
• Rising technology stocks support the Nasdaq Composite Index.
• Defensive shares trade in the negative territory after the opening bell.

Major equity indexes opened mixed on Wednesday amid varying performances of major sectors. As of writing, the S&P 500 was virtually unchanged on the day at 4,342, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.2% at 34,648 and the Nasdaq Composite was rising 0.55% at 14,865.

The defensive Real Estate and the Utilities indexes trade in the negative territory after the opening bell, pointing to improving market sentiment. On the other hand, the Technology Index is up 0.45% supported by risk flows.

Later in the day, the FOMC will release the minutes of its June meeting and market participants will look for fresh clues regarding the timing of asset tapering.

S&P 500 chart (daily)