NEW YORK—U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday as rising crude prices boosted energy shares and a swath of positive U.S. data suggested inflation has crested and the economic recovery remains robust, boosting investor sentiment. All three major U.S. stock indexes gathered strength as the session progressed, with economically sensitive cyclicals, smallcaps and transportation stocks leading the charge. While value stocks initially held the advantage, the risk-on sentiment gained momentum through the afternoon, broadening to include growth stocks. “Today is the first time in a while when both growth and value stocks are doing pretty well. It’s been either or for much of the last few weeks and today it’s both,” said Chuck Carlson, chief executive of Horizon Investment Services in Hammond, Indiana. “Breadth matters, and that’s something investors like to see.” A host of economic data showed hints of waning inflation and an ongoing return to economic normalcy, even as …