U.S. stocks dipped slightly at the open on Wednesday following weak earnings forecasts from retailers Lowe's and Target, ahead of the release of minutes from the most recent meeting of the Federal Reserve.

The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI fell 20.06 points or 0.12 percent, to 16,899.53, the S&P 500 .SPX lost 2.89 points or 0.15 percent, to 1,978.71 and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 8.71 points or 0.19 percent, to 4,518.80.