U.S. stocks closed higher Wednesday, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 53 points to 11045, the S&P 500 climbed 7.7 points to 1191 and the Nasdaq Composite added less than a point to 2472. among the companies whose shares are actively trading in the after-hours session are Palm Inc. (PALM), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) and Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM).

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) announced plans to acquire Palm for nearly $1 billion, ending the scuttlebutt about what would happen to the once-pioneering smartphone maker. H-P is paying $5.70 a share, a 23% premium to Wednesday's closing price. Including ...

US HOT STOCKS:Palm, Green Mountain Coffee Active In Late Trading