U.S. Stocks Open With Slight Gains Ahead Of Fed Decision

U.S. stocks rose modestly in early trading on Wednesday as investors looked ahead to the Federal Reserve's monetary-policy update, where the central bank is widely expected to raise interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 19 points, or 0.1%, to 21,348. The S&P 500 gained 0.1%, or 2.5 points, to 2,443. The Nasdaq Composite Index was up 14 points, or 0.2%, to 6,235. In the latest economic data, read on consumer prices and retail sales came in below expectations. The data pushed bond prices higher, which resulted in a sharp drop in Treasury yields. The yield for the benchmark 10-year note slumped 5.8 basis points to 2.154%, hitting its lowest level since November. Investors also digested news of a shooting in Northern Virginia, where House Majority Whip Steve Scalise and several people were injured after a gunman opened fire during a baseball practice. In company news, H&R Block Inc. rose 6.4% after posting earnings that beat expectations.