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NEW YORK， Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks posted solid gains Wednesday as the U.S. Federal Reserve left its federal funds rate unchanged after the conclusion of its two day policy meeting.


The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 163.74 points， or 0.90 percent， to 18，293.70. The S&P 500 leapt 23.36 points， or 1.09 percent， to 2，163.12. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 53.83 points， or 1.03 percent， to 5，295.18.


"The Committee judges that the case for an increase in the federal funds rate has strengthened but decided， for the time being， to wait for further evidence of continued progress toward its objectives，" the Fed's policy-making committee said in a statement released after its two-day meeting.


The Fed's updated projections released Wednesday showed that policymakers expected the federal funds rate to rise to around 0.625 percent at the end of 2016， implying one rate hike this year， down from two estimated in June.


The Fed also said in the statement that near-term risks to the U.S. economic outlook "appear roughly balanced，" a further sign that the central bank could raise rates by the end of this year.


"The FO