A trader works at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the United States, on Jan. 2, 2019. U.S. stocks ended slightly higher on Wednesday, starting a new year with a fluctuant trading day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 18.78 points, or 0.08 percent, higher to 23,346.24. The S&P 500 edged 3.18 points, or 0.13 percent, higher to 2,510.03. The Nasdaq Composite Index rallied 30.66 points, or 0.46 percent, to 6,665.94. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)