Stocks rebound as Wall St shrugs off rate concerns and energy sectors counter declines

US stocks recovered in midday trading from steeper early losses, with the Dow Jones turning green and the S&P 500 falling slightly. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite was lower after three consecutive days of sharp losses. Investors are considering the prospect of higher interest rates after Federal Reserve minutes showed the central bank wouldn't rule out further hikes. Meanwhile, conflicting reports on consumer spending emerged as Target slashed its profit outlook while Walmart reported strong sales gains. In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin and other major tokens stumbled, with Bitcoin falling over 7% and wiping off billions of dollars from its market cap. Additionally, rising mortgage rates and elevated home prices are making homes less affordable for prospective buyers.