Meta Platforms and most other U.S. stocks are rising, but drops for Nvidia and Microsoft are weighing on the market. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% in afternoon trading Thursday.

U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday, but off their lows of the day, with the Federal Reserve holding interest rates steady as expected and Fed Chair Jerome Powell offering soothing comments for investors.

As was widely expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates at current levels following the conclusion of its latest policy meeting.