U.S. stocks rose after the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5%. That was the first rate cut in over four years that marked the beginning of a monetary-easing cycle in the world's largest economy.

On Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced that the central bank would begin cutting Fed interest rates, starting with a .50 percentage point (50 bps) cut this month. The Fed also signaled that additional cuts were likely in their final two meetings this year in November and December, and more next year.

U.S. stock indexes remained stuck in place as Wall Street made few big moves ahead of what’s expected to be the first cut to interest rates in more than four years.