Stocks edged higher on Wednesday morning, reversing early losses amid optimism about new fiscal stimulus spending and improving economic conditions in 2021. Inflation data was muted. The Labor Department reported that its consumer price index rose 0.4% in December, driven mainly by higher gasoline prices, up from 0.2% growth in November and in line with consensus expectations. The CPI also increased 1.4% from the prior year, up from 1.