Wall Street ends higher as Fed holds key rate steady, focus turns to earnings
NEW YORK: US stock indexes advanced on Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve left its key policy rate unchanged, as widely expected, leaving investors betting on a rate hike at its next monetary policy meeting in December.
US stock markets rose on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve maintained its key interest rate, leaving investors optimistic about a potential rate hike next December. In its statement, the Fed signaled a more positive view of the economy, although it acknowledged that inflation remains high. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh indicated that the central bank is ready to act if necessary, but the decision came as no surprise to market participants.
All major US stock indexes ended the day higher following the Fed's announcement, with the market becoming more accustomed to the Fed Chair's approach. Investors are now pricing in an 85% chance of a 25-basis-point rate hike at the December meeting, up from 78.3% the previous day. Upcoming economic data, such as the Personal Consumption Expenditures report and GDP figures, may influence rate hike expectations.
Third-quarter earnings season continues, with 84% of S&P 500 companies beating analysts' estimates. Some notable movers included Micron Technology, up 5.90% following a significant profit surge, and Microsoft, which gained over 4% after reporting strong quarterly results. However, Alphabet shares dropped more than 7% after its earnings report.
Oil prices rose after Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Saudi Arabian refinery, adding to supply concerns. On the exchanges, advances outnumbered declines by a significant margin, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both hitting new highs.
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