Wall Street stocks finished sharply lower Wednesday after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged despite lofty US inflation as escalations in the Middle East war pushed oil prices skyward.

The US Federal Reserve's policy meeting has become harder to predict as surging oil prices and renewed geopolitical tensions raise the risk of persistent inflation. While most…

The central bank isn't expected to move on rates Wednesday, but 76% of traders see a September hike as inflation stays above the 2% target.

The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged, awaiting clearer inflation signals. Renewed fighting linked to Iran pressures oil prices and clouds economic outlook.…