5:35PM New York, 11:35PM Frankfurt, 7:35AM Sydney[R]– The Federal Reserve Bank left its short term rate at 2%. Tech stocks rallied. European markets closed higher.[/R]

North American Markets indexes

Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 4.40 to a close of 11,811.83, S&P 500 closed up 7.68 or 0.58% to 1,321.97, and Nasdaq Composite Index increased 32.98 or 1.39% to close at 2,401.26. In Toronto TSX Composite closed up 31.53 or 0.22% to 14,441.13.

Of the 30 stocks in Dow Jones Industrial Average 21 gained, 8 declined and 1 closed unchanged.

Microsoft led the gainers in the Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks with a rise of 2.3% followed by increases in McDonalds of 1.8%, in General Electric of 1.5%, in Wal-Mart of 1.4% and in Coca-Cola of 1.37%.

Boeing led the decliners in the Dow Jones Average with a fall of 7% followed by losses in United Tech Corporation of 3.2%, in General Motors of 2.9%, in American Express of 2.8% and in AIG of 0.3%.

Of the stocks in S&P 500 index, 375 increased, 118 declined, and 7 were unchanged. Of the index stocks 6 increased more than 3% and 119 declined more than 3%.

Rockwell Automation led the decliners in the S&P 500 index with a loss of 12% followed by losses in Apollo Group of 7%, in Honeywell International of 5.4%, in Precision Castparts of 4.9%, in Discover Financial of 4.7%, and in Textron of 8.8%.

Jabil Circuit led the gainers in the S&P 500 index with a rise of 15.6% followed by increases in Dean Foods of 9.4%, in Ashland of 9.3%, in Eastman Kodak of 7.8% and in Darden Restaurant of 6.8%.

European Markets Indexes

Spain led the gainers in the region with a rise of 1.97% followed by increases in Sweden of 1.44%, in Paris and Milan of 1.40%, in Frankfurt of 1.3%, in Zurich of 0.8% and in the UK of 0.6%.

South American Markets Indexes

Brazil led advancers in the Latin American markets with a rise of 2.6% followed by increases in Argentina of 1.18%, in Chile of 1.04%, in Mexico of 0.95%, in Venezuela of 0.7% and in Peru of 0.13% and in Colombia of 0.06%.
Asian markets

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed lower 19.64 or 0.14% to 13,829.92, in Hong Kong Hang Seng index increased 179.14 or 0.80% closed to 22,635.16. In Australia ASX 200 index lower 52.20 or 0.99% to close 5,237.80. In Malaysia KL Composite index increased 8.83 or 0.74% closed to 1,209.11.

In South Korea Kospi Index increased 6.95 or 0.41% to close at 1,717.79, in Thailand SET index closed higher 14.67 or 1.92% to 778.42 and Indonesia JSE Index edged decreased 24.02 or 1.02% to 2,341.36. Sensex index in India increased 113.49 or 0.80% to 14,220.07.

Commodities, Metals, and Currencies

Crude oil increased $2.38 to close at $134.62 a barrel for a front month contract, natural gas decreased 32 cents to $12.69 per mBtu, and gasoline futures decreased 6.45 cents to close at 339.90 cents per gallon.

Gold decreased $9.30 in New York trading to close at $882.30 per ounce, silver closed down 13.20 cents to $16.60 per ounce, and copper for front month delivery decreased 1.35 cent to $3.77 per pound.

Wheat futures increased 32.250 cent in Chicago trading and closed at $9.20 per bushel. Sugar decreased 6 cent to $12.65 per pound. Soybean future closed up 34.00 cents to $15.25 a bushel.

Dollar edged lower and traded near record low against euro to $1.5666 and rose against yen to 107.80.

Yields on U.S. bonds increased to 4.10% with 10 years of maturities and decreased to 4.65% with 30-year of maturities.