01:30 PM EDT, 09/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes advanced in choppy trading and volatility jumped ahead of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcements later on Wednesday. The S&P 500 index rose 0.1% to 5,640.2, with the Nasdaq Composite up 0.1% to 17,644.2 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.1% higher at 41,645.49 in midday trading Wednesday. Energy led...

01:42 PM EDT, 09/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.2% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) rising 0.6%. The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was posting a 0.4% decline, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was shedding 0.4%. US crude oil stocks, including those in the...

01:45 PM EDT, 09/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates prices.) Gold edged higher midafternoon on Wednesday as the dollar steadied ahead of this afternoon's expected first cut to U.S. interest rates since 2020. Gold for December delivery was last seen up US$7.0 to US$2,599.40 per ounce. The Federal Reserve's policy committee will end its two-day meeting at 2:00 pm Eastern time,...

01:32 PM EDT, 09/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were edging higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each rising 0.2%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.2%. In corporate news, Organon (OGN) on Wednesday agreed to buy Roivant Sciences' ( ROIV ) immuno-dermatology subsidiary Dermavant in a...