US Equity Markets Mostly Higher After Fed Maintains Policy Rate

04:03 PM EST, 01/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes were mostly higher Wednesday after the Federal Reserve decided to keep its policy rate unchanged and ahead of big-tech quarterly results post-bell.

* The Federal Open Market Committee kept the federal funds rate at 3.5% to 3.75% and made changes to its statement pointing to firmer economic growth, stable unemployment, and reduced concern about inflation. The statement also acknowledged that job gains have remained low.

* Gold futures increased 4.2% to $5,292.1 per troy ounce, after hitting a new all-time high intraday. Silver futures rose 8% to $114.41 per troy ounce, set to reclaim its recent peak.

* March West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $1.07 to settle at $63.46 per barrel, while March Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $1.04 to $68.61.

* Seagate Technology's (STX) shares rose nearly 20%, the top gainer on the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, after the company reported overnight fiscal Q2 earnings and sales above market expectations, and its fiscal Q3 outlook outpaced guidance.

* Carvana (CVNA) shares fell almost 15% after short seller Gotham City Research published a report alleging accounting irregularities and undisclosed related-party transactions, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday.

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