Stocks, yields end higher after Fed raises interest rates

By DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA
AP Business Writers

Stocks shook off an afternoon stumble and ended higher on Wall Street Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announced its first interest rate hike since 2018. Bond yields also rose as the Fed started to pivot its policy to fighting inflation. As markets had anticipated, the Fed raised its short-term rate by 0.25 percentage points. The move marks a shift by the Fed away from maintaining the ultra-low interest rates it had in place during the worst part of the pandemic, which were meant to stimualte the economy. Now that prices are rising, it’s changing course. The S&P 500 added 2.2%.