NEW YORK -- Stocks rose only slightly today, barely snapping a three-session losing streak despite news that the Federal Reserve won't boost interest rates for now. Stocks edge up
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 3.74 to 9,054.65, even after posting a gain as large 62 points before today's Fed meeting ended. The Dow lost about 160 points the past three sessions after closing at a record 9,211.84 last Wednesday.
The Standard & Poor's 500 rose 3.70 to 1,109.52, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 14.25 to 1,845.87.
Advancers outnumbered decliners by nearly a 4-to-3 margin on the New York Stock Exchange, with 1,701 up, 1,294 down and 533 unchanged. NYSE volume was 565.39 million shares vs. 518.27 million yesterday.
The NYSE composite index rose 1.84 to 573.92, and the American Stock Exchange composite index rose 0.33 to 732.69. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 3.25 to 470.86.
The price of the Treasury's main 30-year bond was down 5/32 from yesterday at 102 21/32, while its yield rose to 5.93 percent.
Broad-market indicators also retreated from the day's highs after Fed officials concluded one of their periodic discussions on inflation with no surprise increase in the central bank's key lending rates.
The Fed has signaled its determination to prevent an inflationary spurt of economic activity, but a boost in U.S. interest rates would likely aggravate the renewed turmoil in Asia by drawing more investment money away.
Analysts had expected that recent indications of moderation in the U.S. economy would keep the Fed on the sidelines.