Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock...

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street on Oct. 7, 2014. Credit: Getty Images / Spencer Platt

The Dow Jones industrial average surged 274 points Wednesday to its biggest gain of the year, erasing a 272 point loss from a day earlier.

Investors were reacting to minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting, which showed that the Fed is reluctant to raise interest rates any time soon. The rally began shortly after the minutes were released.

At the close on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 274.83 points, or 1.64 percent, to 16,994.22. The Standard & Poor's 500 gained 33.79 points, or 1.75 percent, to 1,968.89. The Nasdaq composite rose 83.39 points, or 1.9 percent, to 4,468.59.

Indexes had seesawed between gains and losses earlier in the day, then turned higher after the Fed released minutes from its latest policy meeting. The Dow recovered all of the ground it lost the day before, when it sank on worries that the global economy was slowing.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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