Stocks end mixed after Fed delivers no surprises

7/30/2014

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are closing mixed after the Federal Reserve said the economy was strengthening enough for the central bank to continue cutting its stimulus.

Bond yields rose today after the government reported that the U.S. economy grew at a robust annual rate of 4 percent this spring.

Several companies fell after reporting results that disappointed investors. Genworth Financial sank 14 percent and Goodyear fell 8 percent.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index closed little changed at 1,970.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 31 points, or 0.2 percent, to 16,880. The Nasdaq composite rose 20 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,462.

Utility companies fell the most in the S&P 500 index.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose sharply, to 2.56 percent from 2.46 percent.