U.S. stocks opened higher on Wednesday ahead of congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, as investors looked for insight into the U.S. central bank's thinking on the economy.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 37.34 points, or 0.36 percent, to 10,319.75. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 4.23 points, or 0.39 percent, to 1,098.83. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> climbed 12.91 points, or 0.58 percent, to 2,226.35.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Ben Bernanke