The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates last night and said it was keeping the core of its plan to tighten monetary policy intact even as central bank officials said they would likely slow the pace of further rate increases next year.

US stocks reversed an early slide and ended higher today after the Federal Reserve issued a more upbeat assessment of the economy.

Investors slowed their hectic buying of stocks today, leaving the major indexes little changed after a four-day advance.

Wall Street's growing angst about company earnings gave stocks a mixed finish today, with the Dow Jones industrials suffering their fifth straight loss.

A stock market gaining in confidence shot higher for a second straight session today as investors bet that President-elect Barack Obama’s plans to increase infrastructure spending will help lift the economy back to health.