Roundup: U.S. stocks extend gains after Fed statement

U.S. stocks ticked up Thursday, as investors assessed the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy announcement as well as oil recovery.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 155.73 points, or 0.90 percent, to 17,481.49. The S&P 500 gained 13.37 points, or 0.66 percent, to 2,040.59. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 11.01 points, or 0.23 percent, to 4,774.98.

The Fed kept its benchmark short-term interest rates unchanged on Wednesday as expected, noting that "global economic and financial developments continue to pose risks" to the U.S. economy.

"I am wary and have not yet concluded that we have seen a significant uptick that will be lasting," said Fed Chair Janet Yellen, at a press conference following the two-day policy meeting.

Many analysts said the stock markets would witness more volatility in the coming months, as Wall Street speculates on the Fed's next move.

The Fed's updated projections showed that policymakers expected the federal funds rate to rise to around 0.9 percent at the end of 2016, implying two quarter-percentage-point rate increases this year, down from four estimated in December.

Investors were also encouraged by a strong rebound in oil prices. Oil prices continued to rise Thursday, with U.S. oil hitting 40 U.S. dollars a barrel for the first time in 2016, as traders believed that major producers will strike an output freeze deal next month.

On the economic front, in the week ending March 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 265,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised level, the U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday.

The four-week moving average was 268,000, an increase of 750 from the previous week's revised average.

The CBOE Volatility Index, often referred to as Wall Street's fear gauge, decreased 3.67 percent to end at 14.44 on Thursday.

In other markets, the U.S. dollar decreased against other major currencies as investors digested the Fed statement released in the previous session.

In late New York trading, the euro rose to 1.1318 dollars from 1.1183 dollars in the previous session, while the dollar bought 111.43 Japanese yen, lower than 112.91 yen of the previous session.

Oil prices extended the rally as declining dollar made the dollar-priced crude less expensive and more attractive for buyers holding other currencies.

The West Texas Intermediate for April delivery moved up 1.74 U.S. dollars to settle at 40.2 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for May delivery increased 1.21 dollars to close at 41.54 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange bounced back strongly on Thursday as the U.S. dollar slumped after the dovish announcement of the Fed policy meeting.

The most active gold contract for April delivery rose 35.2 dollars, or 2.86 percent, to settle at 1,265 dollars per ounce. Endit