Leading indexes on the American stock exchanges went in different directions on Wednesday. The broad S&P 500 index rose 0.9 per cent and the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index increased 1.5 per cent, while the Dow Jones industrial index fell 0.1 per cent.
The day was dominated partly by positive news about inflation in the USA, partly by a message from the Federal Reserve that the central bank is leaving the interest rate unchanged. The bank hinted at the same time that there will likely only be one interest rate cut this year – on the other hand, that there may be more cuts than previously announced next year.