04:00 PM EDT, 06/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended mixed Wednesday as the Federal Reserve kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged for a fourth straight meeting, while acknowledging that economic uncertainty has dropped.

* The Federal Open Market Committee left interest rates in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%, in line with Wall Street's expectations. Policymakers lowered rates by 50 basis points in September and by 25 basis points each in November and December.

President Donald Trump has been repeatedly urging the Fed to cut rates.

* US housing starts fell more than projected last month, driven by a sharp slump in multi-family projects, government data showed.

Homebuilding is likely to remain subdued in the coming months as mortgage rates remain near 7% and amid an uncertain economic outlook due to trade tensions, TD Economics said.

* July West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed up $0.30 to settle at $75.15 per barrel, while August Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.10 to $76.55. Israel and Iran continue to engage in aerial conflict while the Trump Administration ponders efforts to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program.

* Korn Ferry ( KFY ) shares jumped 7.6% as its fiscal Q4 results surpassed analysts' expectations, while the consulting firm forecast fiscal Q1 earnings growth on an annual basis at the mid-point of its guidance range.

* Wolfspeed's ( WOLF ) creditors, including Apollo Global Management (APO), will take over the company as part of a deal that will speed up a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. Wolfspeed ( WOLF ) shares sank 30%.