Around the World's Markets: New York

STOCKS rose for the first time in three days after the Federal Reserve left benchmark interest rates unchanged, fuelling confidence that profits would rise as the economy grows with little inflation. Online brokerages surged, and Intel led a rally in semiconductor shares after forming ventures with Mattel and Analog Devices.

The Dow Jones gained 92.69 points, or 1 per cent, to 9,366.81. The S&P 500 gained 10.08 to 1,272.07 and the Nasdaq climbed 29.99, or 1.2 per cent, to 2,493.41.