Stocks struggled for direction Thursday after rallying in Wednesday's Fed-fueled session. While encouraging economic data helped lift the main indexes into positive territory mid-morning, the buying power faded into the close.
The main indexes closed Wednesday with gains ranging from 0.9% to 1.4% after Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated his confidence in the strength of the U.S. economy. The central bank's decision to slow the pace of its Treasury bond runoff was also well received.
