Stocks rose at the open on Wednesday on continued hopes of more Federal Reserve stimulus for the struggling economy a day after minutes of the latest central bank meeting were published.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 75.38 points, or 0.65 percent, to 11,635.33. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> rose 8.26 points, or 0.68 percent, to 1,221.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> added 17.72 points, or 0.69 percent, to 2,593.83.

The S&P 500 was still on track for its worst month since May 2010. After the United States credit rating was downgraded in early August, the index posted one of its worst weeks since the depths of the financial crisis in 2008.