Around the World's Markets: New york

SHARE PRICES closed sharply higher, lifted by year-end purchasing by portfolio managers and satisfaction that the Federal Open Market Committee left interest rates unchanged. The Dow Jones index closed up 55.61 at 9,044.46, and the S&P 500 up 0.74 at 1,203.58.

However, the Nasdaq closed sharply lower, down 17.05 at 2,120.98 on heavy profit-taking in the technology sector, after the index set a record closing level yesterday.