29th October 2026 – (New York) U.S. stocks advanced for a third consecutive day after the Federal Reserve left its benchmark rate unchanged, with investors digesting the policy signal and positioning ahead of major technology earnings. The S&P 500 added 0.28 per cent to close at 7,743.98, the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.27 per cent to 26,549.85, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 97.53 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 52,475.10. Market moves were broadly in line with expectations that policymakers would pause while keeping the door open to further action depending on inflation and growth data.
The Federal Open Market Committee maintained the target range at 3.75 to 4 per cent in a 10–2 decision, following September’s quarter‑point increase. Chair Kevin Warsh said the central bank remains focused on price stability and noted continued resilience in the labour market. Futures pricing ahead of the meeting had indicated an almost 93 per cent probability of no change, and economists now see December as the next live meeting for a potential move.
Technology shares were in focus. Oracle rallied after setting a long‑term revenue ambition that impressed investors, while U.S.‑listed chipmakers advanced alongside gains for SK Hynix following record quarterly profit. Attention turned to after‑hours results from Alphabet and Microsoft, with traders assessing whether spending on artificial intelligence can deliver durable returns or whether leadership will narrow to select winners.
