The Nasdaq and NYSE composite were up 0.8% each. The S&P 500 and Dow added 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Despite the improvement, volume continued to track sharply lower from Tuesday's pace.

Radware (RDWR) erased opening losses and rallied 6% in fast trade. The stock retook its 50-day moving average. Radware has been working on a new base, but it hasn't seen an up week in heavy volume for two months.

Lubrizol (LZ) rose 3%, retracing the bulk of Tuesday's decline. The stock regained its 200-day line. During Tuesday's session, the chemical maker declared a dividend of 36 cents a share. [Read the full article]

The Dow gained 0.1%, the S&P 500 0.3%, the Nasdaq 0.6% and the NYSE 0.5%. Volume was significantly lower.

New issue Tesla (TSLA), maker of electric cars, was up strongly for a second day straight. The stock went public Tuesday and gained 40% from its initial price of 17 a share. Today it's up 17% more.

Diamond Foods (DMND), a seller of nuts, gapped up and gained 6% in fast trade. The stock retook its 50-day moving average. The stock may be shaping the right side to its base. Diamond's earnings growth accelerated the past two quarters.

Chinese leading stocks were rebounding. [Read the full article]

The major indexes remained modestly higher in midafternoon trade, but still off their highs for the session.

The NYSE composite was up 0.5%, while the Nasdaq composite and S&P 500 both tacked on 0.4%. The Dow edged up 0.2%.

Volume continued to track lower across the board as many big investors took a break following Tuesday's heavy trading.

Top-performing groups included airlines, carmakers and Internet retailers. The day's worst performers included food and media groups.

Cereals and snacks giant Kellogg (K) was down 2% in strong trade. The large cap isn't a top-rated stock. [Read the full article]

Stocks slowly worsened to mixed territory after Moody's put Spain's debt rating on review for a potential downgrade. Fitch Ratings & Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain in May and April, respectively.

The NYSE composite pared an earlier 0.8% gain to 0.2%. The Dow and Nasdaq slipped 0.1% each, while the S&P 500 eased a fraction. Turnover continued to track much lower compared to Tuesday's pace.

Edwards Lifesciences (EW) reversed opening losses and gained 4% to a new record high. Last week, the stock bounced off support at its 50-day moving average. [Read the full article]