U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at 49,663 points, a gain of 0.3 % from the previous trading day. The S&P 500 was up 0.6 %, finishing around 6,881 points, while the technology‑heavy Nasdaq 100 finished near 24,899 points, up 0.8 %.
The Federal Reserve’s latest policy‑making meeting minutes revealed lingering uncertainty about the medium‑term trajectory of the policy rate. Several participants suggested that further downward adjustments to the target corridor might be appropriate if inflation fell as expected. Others noted that it could be prudent to hold the rate steady while the committee carefully evaluates incoming data, and some argued that additional easing would only be justified once there were clear signs that deflationary pressures were firmly on track.
European currency markets were weaker in the evening: one euro bought 1.1786 U.S. dollars, and one U.S. dollar fetched 0.8485 euros.
Gold saw a strong rally, trading at $4,982 per troy ounce-a 2.1 % increase-equivalent to €135.91 per gram.
Oil prices also climbed sharply; Brent crude was priced at $70.50 per barrel at 22:00 Central European Time, up 4.6 % from the previous day’s close.