U.S. stocks trimmed gains on Wednesday after new home sales unexpectedly dropped to a record low in January, while Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated interest rates will stay low for a long time.

* The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> rose 51.62 points, or 0.50 percent, to 10,334.03. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> added 5.61 points, or 0.51 percent, to 1,100.21. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> advanced 17.80 points, or 0.80 percent, to 2,231.24.

(Reporting by Leah Schnurr; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Ben Bernanke