S&P Market News Update

U.S. stocks ended Wednesday’s choppy trading session sharply lower after the Federal Reserve’s policy-making committee reiterated it plans to remain patient and watch the data as it decides when to raise interest rates.

The S&P 500 SPX, -1.35% closed 27.39 points, or 1.4%, lower at 2,002.23, with all 10 main sectors finishing in the red. The energy sector fell 3.9%, as oil fell to lowest levels since March 2009.

Forex Market Update

The dollar inched higher against the euro and pound Wednesday afternoon after the Federal Reserve’s policy statement included no clear guidance about its rate-hike plans.

The dollar USDJPY, +0.31%  was at ¥117.43, compared with ¥117.80 Tuesday. The euro EURUSD, -0.14%  traded at $1.1289, compared with $1.1362 Tuesday. The pound USDGBP, +0.01%  traded at $1.5169, compared with $1.5185.

The Russian ruble RUBUSD, -0.38%  declined to 67.84 rubles per dollar, compared to 67.75 Tuesday.

After the news, the Singapore dollar USDSGD, +0.07%   fell 1.4% to 1.36 per U.S. dollar, its lowest level in more than four years. It traded at 1.34 to the dollar Tuesday.

Gasoline Market Update

Elsewhere in energy trading, gasoline for February delivery RBG5, +0.67%  turned lower, off half a penny, or 0.4%, to finish at $1.3450 a gallon on Nymex. February heating oil HOG5, -0.10%  fell 3 cents, or 1.9%, to end at $1.6318 a gallon on Nymex.

February natural gas NGG15, -3.66%  retreated 11.5 cents, or 3.9%, to end at $2.8660 per million British thermal units. That was natural gas’s largest one-day drop in a week.