Fed's stand keeps stock rally alive

NEW YORK — Wall Street rallied sharply Wednesday after an economic assessment by the Federal Reserve ignited investor hopes that the central bank has warmed to the idea of lowering short-term interest rates.

The Dow Jones industrial average soared 159.42 to 12,447.52, after having been flat until the Fed announcement. It was the index's biggest one-day point gain since July 24.

Microsoft, one of the 30 Dow stocks, gained 68 cents to close at $28.52 a share. Boeing, also a Dow stock, rose 64 cents to $90.80.

Broader stock indicators also posted strong gains. The Standard & Poor's 500 index jumped 24.10 to 1,435.04, and the Nasdaq composite index advanced 47.71 to 2,455.92.

Largely thanks to Wednesday's triple-digit gains, the Dow has surged 337 points this week, the best three-day performance for the blue-chip average since November 2004.

Investors had nervously awaited the economic statement that accompanied the Fed's decision to leave short-term interest rates unchanged at 5.25 percent and were encouraged that the central bank didn't refer to the possibility of "additional firming" of rates as it did in January.

Policymakers said "future policy adjustments" will depend on inflation and growth, more neutral language that the market interpreted as opening the way for a possible rate cut. The Fed indicated it remains vigilant about the threat of inflation, though.

The market also was relieved that the central bank said it expects the economy will "continue to expand at a moderate pace."

While a slowdown in the economy likely would quell the threat of inflation and perhaps open the way for a rate cut, it also would dent corporate profits.

"I think it did a bit to assuage the equity market's concerns that the Fed understands there is a possibility that the drag on the consumer could bring GDP down below where they expect," said Quincy Krosby, chief investment strategist at The Hartford, referring to gross domestic product, the broadest measure of the economy.