US indices end in red after Fed holds rate steady

US stock indices fell as Treasury yields rose, after the policymakers decided to keep interest rates unchanged and the start of the monetary easing cycle in September.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.3%, or 136 points, to settle at 44,713 points, after surging to 44,962 points.

The S&P 500 index fell 0.45%, or 28 points, to 6,039 points, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.5%, or 101 points, to close at 19,632 points.

As for European markets, the STOXX Europe 600 rose 0.5% to 534.2 points, a record close buoyed by a 2% rise in technology stocks.

The French CAC 40 retreated 0.3% to 7,872 points, while the British FTSE index inched up 0.3% to 8,557 points. The German DAX index also rose 0.95% to 21,637 points.

The Nikkei index advanced 1%, or 397 points, to 39,414 points, while the broader Topix index gained 0.7% to 2,775 points.

In the oil market, Brent crude for March delivery dropped by 1.15%, or 91 cents, at $76.58 per barrel.

WTI crude for March delivery edged down by 1.55%, or $1.15, to record $72.62 per barrel.

As for gold, futures prices for February delivery rose by 0.45%, or $12.3, at $2,779.80 per ounce.

Policymakers kept the interest rate range unchanged between 4.25% and 4.50%, due to the stable low unemployment rate and the resilience of the labor market, despite a relative increase in inflation.

During a press conference following the meeting, Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized the commitment to achieving a 2% inflation rate.