Stocks Close Fractionally Higher As ECB Stands Pat On Easing

U.S. stocks finished slightly higher Thursday after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi left easing measures in place but downplayed deflation concerns. The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 2.46 points to finish at 20,858.19 led higher by shares of Johnson & Johnson Inc. . The S&P 500 index closed up 1.89 points, or just under 0.1%, at 2,364.87, as health-care and energy stocks gained. The Nasdaq Composite index finished up 1.25 points at 5,838.81.