Stocks opened higher on Wednesday, buoyed by a weaker U.S. dollar, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve's statement on interest rates and the economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> was up 76.78 points, or 0.79 percent, at 9,848.69. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 8.84 points, or 0.85 percent, at 1,054.25. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> rose 12.65 points, or 0.61 percent, at 2,069.97.

Crude futures rose 0.6 percent to top $80 a barrel, giving a boost to energy related stocks.

(Reporting by Angela Moon; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)