NEW YORK (AP) – Stocks fluctuated in a narrow range Wednesday, showing some signs of stability on a satisfactory gross domestic product report and a recovery on some markets in other countries.

The major indexes opened higher and showed tepid resolve as the market sought to regain its footing a day after the Dow Jones industrials plunged 416 points amid growing concerns about slowing economies in America and China.

The Shanghai stock market, whose nearly 9 percent skid Tuesday started a global selloff, rose nearly 4 percent, helping to steady trading in America And the Commerce Department’s report that the GDP rose at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter was slightly below market expectations, but not enough to puncture Wednesday’s nascent recovery.

A report from the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago index of business conditions in the Midwest showed a weaker-than-expected reading. The February figure fell to 47.9 from 48.8 in January. The report is often viewed as a bellwether for the Institute for Supply Management’s index of manufacturing activity for February, which is due Thursday.

The report sent stocks falling briefly, but they were soon moving higher, another sign that investors were trying to bring the market back.

The Dow was up 30.04, or 0.25 percent, at 12,246.28.

Broader stock indicators were mixed. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index was up 2.76, or 0.20 percent, at 1,401.80, and the Nasdaq composite index was off 5.60 percent, or 0.23 percent, at 2,402.26.

Bonds fell, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note rising to 4.55 percent from its low for the year of 4.47 percent late Tuesday.

The dollar was higher against other major currencies, while gold prices fell.

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