U.S. stocks opened mixed on Wednesday ahead of an eagerly awaited policy update by the Federal Reserve which could deliver clues on the interest rate outlook.

The S&P 500 was up 0.2% to 3,137. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 27 points, or 0.1%, to 27,854. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% to 8,630.

All three benchmarks ended Tuesday within 1% or less of their record closes set nearly two weeks ago on Nov. 27. The Fed is expected to stand pat but could point to how the interest rate path for next year may shape up.

Investors saw signs of an inflation pickup on Wednesday, with consumer prices up 0.3% in November. The prospect for a delay to tariffs would also remain in focus amid comments by White House advisers Larry Kudlow and Peter Navarro who have both suggested import duties could still take place at the end of the week.

Source : Market Watch