Stocks rose modestly on Wall Street as the latest profit report from Intel beat deflated expectations, but added to worries about how much the Asian economic crisis will hurt US companies this year.

The Dow Jones industrial average traded in a tight range most of the day before pushing higher over the final 90 minutes, closing 52.56 points - or 0.68 per cent - higher at 7,784.69.

Most broad-market indicators also turned higher after being pressured during the morning by some profit-taking on Tuesday's rally. Technology shares gave back some of the previous day's gains despite a better-than-expected profit report by Intel.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 12-to-seven margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,871 up, 1,084 down and 512 unchanged.

NYSE volume totalled 591.63 million shares against 645.70 million in the previous session.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 7.13 to 1,548.76.