Wall Street stocks finished mixed, giving up big gains from early in the day as investors chose to take profits on the market's recent historic drive. The Dow Jones industrial average finished 8.35 points higher at 7,506.67, down significantly from the 123-point rally in early trading.

Broad-market indexes also weakened throughout the day, with the Nasdaq composite index and the Standard and Poor's 500 list erasing early highs to end the day in negative territory.

Trading was calm compared with Monday and Tuesday. Pacifying Wall Street was a turnaround overnight in Asian and European financial markets, where turmoil in recent days has depressed US stocks.

"The world financial markets are breathing a sigh of relief", said David Katz, chief investment officer at Matrix Asset Advisers. "The meltdown has reversed and has turned into a melt-up."