Markets rise as tensions over N Korea recede

Markets were mostly higher on Wednesday.

The S&P 500 rose 0.1 percent while the STOXX Europe 600 rose 0.7 percent but the Nikkei 225 fell 0.1 percent.

“Over the past couple of days we’ve seen a decent rebound in equity markets as risky assets start to regain some of their attraction, as concerns about tensions in North Korea show signs of settling down a little,” wrote Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets.

Indeed, a Bloomberg report noted that compared to other times in the last few years when the S&P 500 took one-day plunges of between 1 percent to 3 percent, the rebound since Thursday ranks among the fastest.