Stocks pared losses on Wednesday as a more than 6 percent rise in crude oil futures sparked a rise of shares in the energy sector.

Major indexes had fallen 2 percent earlier in session.

The S&P energy index <.GSPE> rose 1 percent.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> dropped 55.20 points, or 0.75 percent, to 7,295.74. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> fell 5.95 points, or 0.77 percent, to 767.19. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> slipped 14.29 points, or 0.99 percent, to 1,427.54.

(Reporting by Rodrigo Campos; Editing by James Dalgleish)