Dow Hits New Record; Broad S&P Index Within 15 Points of an All-Time High

The Fed is troubled by inflation, but also troubled by a soft economy, and so is leaving the fed interest rate alone. And those two troubles put together are pretty troubling.

But for now -- the markets have no trouble reaching, or closing on, record highs.

Wall Street wobbled, then regained its stride Wednesday after the Federal Reserve told investors what they expected to hear: that inflation is still too high for comfort, but the central bank is holding interest rates steady. The Dow Jones industrials rose to another record close.

The central bank's Open Market Committee as anticipated left interest rates unchanged at 5.25 percent, as it has done since last summer. The statement that accompanied the decision was little changed from the one the Fed released after its last meeting in March; the assessment said policy makers are keeping their inflation watch the priority despite a slower economy.

...

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 53.80, or 0.40 percent, to 13,362.87, after reaching a new trading high of 13,369.29. It was the blue chip index's 21st record close since the beginning of the year.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index advanced 4.86, or 0.32 percent, to 1,512.58 -- a new six-and-a-half-year high. The index is near its closing record of 1,527.46, reached March 24, 2000.

posted by Ace at 05:39 PM

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