U.S. stocks are slipping Wednesday after the Federal Reserve opted not to cut interest rates for the first time since it began trying to help the economy through easier rates in September. The S&P 500 was down 0.

U.S. equity indexes dipped and Treasury yields pushed higher on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and gave little insight into when further reductions in borrowing costs may take place.

As was widely expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates at current levels following the conclusion of its latest policy meeting.

U.S. stock indexes are drifting higher following a mostly encouraging batch of profit reports from big companies.

It's a sign of a more cautious approach as the Federal Reserve seeks to gauge where inflation is headed and what policies President Donald Trump may pursue.

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday after three consecutive cuts since late last year. Why it matters: The Fed is halting rate cuts as inflation looks more persistent, with some officials worried Trump's economic agenda might further ignite price pressures.

U.S. stock indexes closed their best week in two months with a flourish on Friday. The S&P 500 climbed 1% to clinch its first winning week in the last three. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 334 points,