NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks held near record highs in early trading Wednesday amid excitement over Twitter's market debut and after U.S. economic growth accelerated in the third quarter to the fastest pace in a year.

The U.S. economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.8 percent from July through September, rising from a 2.5 percent annual rate in the second quarter. The growth was nearly a full percentage point stronger than most economists had predicted.

Investors were also watching for the start of trading in Twitter, the most anticipated initial public offering since Facebook came to the market. The online messaging service priced its stock at $26 a share, valuing the company at more than $18 billion.

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