04:18 PM EDT, 07/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes fell Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell maintained the interest rates and indicated the central bank will hold off on rate cuts while evaluating how President Donald Trump's higher tariffs affect inflation.

* Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank left interest rates unchanged in July and has made no decision on a possible move in September, noting the Fed's focus on keeping long-term inflation expectations anchored as higher tariffs start to affect some goods. He added that the broader impact on inflation and economic activity is still unclear. The decision was split, with governors Michelle Bowman and Christopher Waller favoring a quarter-point rate cut.

* The Bureau of Economic Analysis said Wednesday that gross domestic product grew 3% in the advance estimate for the second quarter, topping the 2.6% increase expected in a Bloomberg survey and rebounding from a 0.5% drop in the first quarter.

* Private employers added 104,000 jobs in July, beating the 76,000 increase expected in a Bloomberg survey, according to ADP data. June figures were revised to show a loss of 23,000 jobs, smaller than the initially reported 33,000 decline.

* September West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose $1.01 to settle at $70.22 per barrel, while September Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen up $0.86 to $73.37.

* Generac ( GNRC ) shares rose nearly 20% after the company reported stronger-than-expected Q2 results and narrowed its net sales growth forecast for fiscal 2025.

* IDEX ( IEX ) shares fell roughly 11% after the company cut its fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings guidance.