Toward the end of trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.97 percent to 16,533.35 while the NASDAQ surged 0.86 percent to 4,132.96. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.80 percent to 1,887.14. Leading and Lagging Sectors Energy sector was the top gainer in the US

Toward the end of trading Wednesday, the Dow traded up 0.97 percent to 16,533.35 while the NASDAQ surged 0.86 percent to 4,132.96. The S&P also rose, gaining 0.80 percent to 1,887.14.

Energy sector was the top gainer in the US market on Wednesday. Top gainers in the sector included Trina Solar

, Hanwha Solarone Co

, and CGG

. In trading on Wednesday, utilities shares rose by just 0.03 percent. Top decliners in the sector included Pure Cycle

, down 4 percent, and Ormat Technologies

, off 2.8 percent.

Tiffany & Co

reported a rise in its first-quarter earnings and raised its forecast. Tiffany's quarterly earnings surged to $126 million, or $0.97 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $84 million, or $0.65 per share. Its sales climbed 13% to $1.0 billion, while comparable store sales surged 11%. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.77 per share on sales of $954 million. Tiffany now expects FY15 earnings of $4.15 to $4.25 per share, versus a previous range of $4.05 to $4.15 per share. It also projects sales to increase in the high single digits.

Trina Solar

shares shot up 30.50 percent to $13.52 after the company reported a Q1 profit of $0.37 per ADS on revenue of $444.80 million. Shares of PHH Corporation

was also up, gaining 10.21 percent to $23.32 after a Reuters report disclosed that the company was evaluating a sale of its fleet leasing business for $1.35 billion in cash. Tiffany & Co

shares were also up, gaining 9.106 percent to $96.25 after the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings and raised its forecast.

Shares of PetSmart

were 7.69 percent to $57.42 after the company reported Q1 earnings of $1.04 per share on revenue of $1.73 billion and lowered its FY14 earnings forecast. American Eagle Outfitters

shares tumbled 6.53 percent to $10.59 after the company reported an 86% drop in its fiscal first-quarter earnings and announced its plans to close an additional 150 stores in North America. The company also issued a weak fiscal second-quarter forecast. Booz Allen Hamilton

was also down, falling 9.01 percent to $22.21 after the company's fourth quarter results disappointed the street.

In commodity news,

to $103.93, while gold traded down 0.36 percent to $1,290.00. Silver traded down 0.12 percent Wednesday to $19.40, while copper fell 0.54 percent to $3.13.

European shares

today. The eurozone's STOXX 600 gained 0.54 percent, the Spanish Ibex Index rose 0.66 percent, while Italy's FTSE MIB Index gained 1.11 percent. Meanwhile, the German DAX climbed 0.63 percent and the French CAC 40 surged 0.27 percent while UK shares rose 0.18 percent.

The MBA reported that its index of mortgage application activity gained 0.9% in the week ended May 16. Crude stockpiles fell 7.2 million barrels for the week ended May 16, the US Energy Information Administration reported. However, analysts were expecting a drop of 300,000 barrels. Gasoline supplies climbed 1 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles rose 3.4 million barrels. The Federal Open Market Committee will release minutes of its latest meeting at 2:00 p.m. ET.