04:25 PM EDT, 06/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes were lower on Wednesday as government bond yields rose and the Federal Reserve announcement excluded any language hinting at near-term rate cuts.

* "Economic activity is expanding at a solid pace despite elevated uncertainty that owes, in part, to the conflict in the Middle East," the Fed statement said. "Job gains have kept pace with the workforce, and the unemployment rate has changed little."

* Iran accused Israel of violating the truce in Lebanon 84 times since it reached the interim agreement with the US and warned of a "harsh response" if attacks continue, Al Jazeera reported.

* July West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $0.10 to settle at $75.95 per barrel, while August Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $0.08 at $78.87.

* Moderna ( MRNA ) plans to invest in production sites in Germany and is interested in the plants that BioNTech (BNTX) has slated for closure, according to a Google translation of a Wednesday report from German news outlet Handelsblatt. Moderna ( MRNA ) shares were up roughly 12%, the top gainer on the S&P 500, and BioNTech stock was up about 2.9%.

* Carvana ( CVNA ) shares were down nearly 10%, the worst performer on the S&P 500, after competitor CarMax's ( KMX ) fiscal Q1 earnings fell year over year on Wednesday as comparable used vehicle sales swung negative and its management flagged higher margin pressure in the near term.