1st LD: U.S. Fed leaves rates unchanged amid inflation progress, avoids signaling imminent rate cut

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday left interest rates unchanged at a 22-year high of 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent as inflation continued to cool, while avoiding the signal of an imminent rate cut going forward.

The latest marks the fourth straight meeting for the central bank to hold policy rate steady.