US stocks are edging higher after the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate unchanged at close to zero. According to AP, the central bank said in a statement Wednesday that it wants to see further gains in hiring and more signs of inflation before raising interest rates. The Dow Jones industrial average climbed 39 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,941 as of 2:16 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday. The Standard & Poor's 500 rose three points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,099. The Nasdaq composite gained nine points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,064. Stocks had been slightly lower before the Fed released its statement. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note dropped to 2.32 percent from 2.38 percent before the statement.
