Stocks Ended Higher, Nasdaq Rallied to Record High

U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday, with the Nasdaq finished at a record-high, following the Federal Reserve’s decision to stand pat on interest rates. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 98.76 points, or 0.54%, to 18,392.46. The S&P 500 rose 14.06 points, or 0.65%, to 2,177.18. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 44.34 points, or 0.84%, to 5,339.52.

Oil prices rallied again on Thursday, boosted for a second day by U.S. government data that showed a surprising crude inventory drop. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled up 98 cents, or 2.2 percent, at $46.32 a barrel. Brent crude futures rose 82 cents, or 1.8 percent, to settle at $47.65.

Sales of previously owned homes fell for a second month in August as inventory of homes for sale continued to shrink. Existing-home sales declined 0.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.33 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.

Yahoo Inc. on Thursday disclosed a massive security breach affecting at least 500 million users as the beaten-down internet company works through the sale of its core business.

Tesla Motors Inc. is cranking up the pressure to sell electric cars directly to customers, filing its first federal lawsuit over the practice on the home turf of General Motors and Ford.