U.S. stocks are ticking higher ahead of the Federal Reserve’s announcement coming later in the afternoon about what it will do with interest rates.

World shares are mostly lower after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates again to ease pressure on the U.S. economy.

Stocks hit fresh all-time highs, climbing alongside bonds and commodities, in a concerted cross-asset advance that by one measure was the best for a Federal Reserve day in 2024.

The Fed’s announcement that it was easing its main interest rate caused few ripples in the market because even the size of it was so well anticipated by investors. The central bank began easing rates in September and indicated that more cuts were likely as it focuses more on keeping the job market humming after helping get inflation nearly down to its 2% target.