NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks advanced on Wednesday while the U.S. dollar made across-the-board gains after the Federal Reserve left official interest rates unchanged, as expected. Bond yields also pushed higher.

"Although swings in net exports have affected the data, recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace," the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said in a statement following their regular 2-day monthly meeting which concluded Wednesday. "The unemployment rate has stabilized at a low level in recent months, and labor market conditions remain solid. Inflation remains somewhat elevated," the statement said. The decision among the FOMC committee was unanimous.

Following are the key U.S. stock market indices closing quotes for Wednesday:

• S&P 500 (^GSPC): Rose 24.36 points (0.43 percent) to 5,631.27

• Dow Jones (^DJI): Gained 284.97 points (0.70 percent) to 41,113.97

• NASDAQ (^IXIC): Added 48.50 points (0.27 percent) to 17,738.16

Global Forex Markets on Wednesday See Strong Rebound in U.S. Dollar

The foreign exchange market witnessed a major recovery for the greenback on Wednesday amid shifting economic sentiment. Here are Wednesday's latest key forex rates and their changes:

• EUR/USD (Euro / US dollar): Trading at 1.1310, down 0.50 percent, as the euro weakened against the greenback.

• USD/JPY (US dollar / Japanese yen): Rose to 143.78, gaining 0.96 percent, reflecting a stronger dollar against the yen.

• USD/CAD (US dollar / Canadian dollar): Climbed to 1.3829, up 0.40 percent, as the Canadian dollar softened.

• GBP/USD (British pound / US dollar): Fell to 1.3299, declining 0.47 percent amid ongoing economic concerns in the UK.

• USD/CHF (US dollar / Swiss franc): Inched up to 0.8228, rising 0.14 percent, as the Swiss franc lost slight ground.

• AUD/USD (Australian dollar / US dollar): Dropped to 0.6433, down 0.92 percent, weighed by commodity market pressures.

• NZD/USD (New Zealand dollar / US dollar): Slid to 0.5946, marking a 1.00 percent decrease, the largest decline among major pairs.

World Stock Markets See Sharep Falls in UK and European Bourses, While Asia Indices Make Modest Gains

Shares in London and European capitals eased on Wednesday as equity markets in Asia moved modestly ahead. Following are Wednesday's closing quotes for key stock indices around the world.

Canada

• S&P/TSX (^GSPTSE): Rose 186.46 points (0.75 percent) to 25,161.18

UK and European Markets Retreat

• FTSE 100 (^FTSE): Fell 38.09 points (0.44 percent) to 8,559.33

• DAX (^GDAXI): Declined 133.69 points (0.58 percent) to 23,115.96

• CAC 40 (^FCHI): Dropped 70.08 points (0.91 percent) to 7,626.84

• EURO STOXX 50 (^STOXX50E): Lost 33.19 points (0.63 percent) to 5,230.19

• Euronext 100 (^N100): Decreased 8.85 points (0.57 percent) to 1,532.78

• BEL 20 (^BFX): Fell sharply by 51.25 points (1.15 percent) to 4,414.40

Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia Shows Mixed Results

• Hang Seng (^HSI): Edged up 29.17 points (0.13 percent) to 22,691.88

• STI Index (^STI): Gained 4.96 points (0.13 percent) to 3,865.37

• S&P/ASX 200 (^AXJO): Rose 26.90 points (0.33 percent) to 8,178.30

• All Ordinaries (^AORD): Added 30.50 points (0.36 percent) to 8,399.80

• Sensex (^BSESN): Increased 105.71 points (0.13 percent) to 80,746.78

• IDX Composite (^JKSE): Advanced 28.03 points (0.41 percent) to 6,926.23

• FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (^KLSE): Jumped 13.10 points (0.85 percent) to 1,549.90

• S&P/NZX 50 (^NZ50): Climbed 75.80 points (0.61 percent) to 12,496.89

• KOSPI (^KS11): Gained 14.01 points (0.55 percent) to 2,573.80

• TWSE (^TWII): Inched up 23.90 points (0.12 percent) to 20,546.49

• SSE Composite (000001.SS): Surged 26.55 points (0.80 percent) to 3,342.67

• Nikkei 225 (^N225): Slipped 51.03 points (0.14 percent) to 36,779.66

Middle East Markets  

• TA-125 (^TA125.TA): Soared 40.61 points (1.56 percent) to 2,641.72

• EGX 30 (^CASE30): Plunged 445.10 points (1.38 percent) to 31,840.40

Africa 

• Top 40 USD (^JN0U.JO): Declined 37.93 points (0.76 percent) to 4,951.28

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