Major U.S. stock indexes fell Wednesday as the
minutes from the Federal Reserve's June meeting indicated internal
indecision on whether to increase stimulus measures.
The minutes revealed that some members of the rate-setting central
bank thought it necessary to take further action to boost the
economy, but others disagreed, leading some Wall Street analysts to
predict that there will be no rate cuts or other stimulus measures
from the Fed in the next month.
The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 48.59 points, or
0.38 percent, to 12,604.53. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index
lost 0.02 points to 1,341.45. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite
Index dropped 14.35 points, or 0.49 percent, to 2,887.98.
The U.S. currency gained against the euro to 81.72 euro cents from
81.64 euro cents on Tuesday. The dollar rose against the Japanese
currency to 79.72 yen from 79.41.
