US stocks end lower, world stocks near record high

MSCI's broadest index of world shares continued towards its best month of the year so far. The index, which tracks shares in 49 nations, rose 1.01 points, or 0.14 percent, to 706.55. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 164.55 points, or 0.48%, to 33,820.38, the S&P 500 lost 3.54 points, or 0.08%, to 4,183.18 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 39.19 points, or 0.28%, to 14,051.03. The pan-European STOXX 600 index ended largely unchanged, with bank stocks leading gains among the regional sectors. The subindex ended 1.5% higher.

NEW YORK: The S&P 500 ended lower on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates and its monthly bond-buying program steady and gave no sign it was ready to reduce its support for the recovery.

Despite the improving economy, the Fed repeated the guidance it has used since December, saying it must see "substantial further progress" towards its inflation and employment goals before stepping back from its monthly bond purchases.