2nd LD Writethru: U.S. Fed signals to keep interest rates near zero at least through 2023

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the record-low level of near zero after concluding the final policy meeting of 2020, while expecting rates to stay there at least through 2023.

"Economic activity and employment have continued to recover but remain well below their levels at the beginning of the year," the Fed said in a statement after the meeting, noting the path of the economy will depend significantly on the course of the virus.