U.S. stocks rose after the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5%. That was the first rate cut in over four years that marked the beginning of a monetary-easing cycle in the world's largest economy.

Though the S&P 500 briefly touched a new record, equities were mixed as investors remain split over the Fed's interest rate decision on Wednesday.

U.S. stock indexes remained stuck in place as Wall Street made few big moves ahead of what’s expected to be the first cut to interest rates in more than four years.

Stocks were choppy in the lead-up to today's Federal Reserve policy announcement. While the main indexes made a confident move higher after the central bank cut rates by a half-percentage point, a late-day burst of selling pressure sent them into the red at the close.

The Federal Reserve cut rates on Wednesday and mortgage rates went up! What happened? The answer lies in the bond market.

Wall Street is roaring toward records as a delayed reaction of jubilation sweeps markets worldwide following the Federal Reserve’s big cut to interest rates. The S&P 500 was 1.6% higher in early trading Thursday and above its all-time closing high set in July.

As for the major indexes, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 0.5% to 17,592, while the broader S&P 500 finished up 0.1% to 5,633 and the blue chip Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.6% to 41,622.

Asian markets have forged higher after the Federal Reserve kicked off its efforts to prevent a recession in the U.S. with a bigger-than-usual cut to interest rates

Indexes rose Thursday as investors digested Wednesday's jumbo rate cut from the Fed and a fall in weekly jobless claims.