The Federal Open Market Committee said it is seeing a continuing moderation in economic growth, partly reflecting the cooling of the housing market. It added that inflation pressures seem likely to moderate over time, but said some inflation risks remain.

"The extent and timing of any additional firming that may be needed to address these risks will depend on the evolution of the outlook for both inflation and economic growth, as implied by incoming information," the Fed said in its policy statement.

Stocks were already higher before the Fed announcement, rebounding from yesterday's losses on news today that Oracle Corp.'s quarterly profit rose 29 percent and Morgan Stanley also had a strong quarter.

The Fed's move "sets a great stage for better market performance going into the end of the year, although the market may need to take a breather for the next day or two," said Steve Neimeth, senior portfolio manager for AIG SunAmerica Asset Management.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 72.28, or 0.63 percent, to 11,613.19.

Broader stock indicators also closed higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 6.87, or 0.52 percent, to 1,325.18, and the Nasdaq composite index, lifted higher by Oracle's news, rose 30.52, or 1.37 percent, to 2,252.89.

Advancing issues led decliners by roughly 2 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bonds held steady, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury note at 4.73 percent. The U.S. dollar was lower against other major currencies. Gold prices were higher.

Crude oil futures fell on a government report of increased supplies of crude and distillates, including heating oil. A barrel of light crude settled at $60.46, down $1.20, on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Markets were unsettled yesterday by a bloodless coup in Thailand that ousted the unpopular caretaker prime minister and left the chief of the army in charge. European markets rebounded smartly today.

Many strategists were saying, even before the Thai coup, that the "risk premium" in the market was too thin. The risk premium is the extra return investors might expect as a reward for taking on extra risk.

As some investors have trimmed their riskier holdings, traditionally defensive sectors such as utilities, consumer staples and health care have gains, said Matthew Smith, Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Smith Affiliated Capital, which specializes in bonds.

In company news, Oracle rose $1.80, more than 11 percent, to $17.93, a 52-week high, after it said its first quarter revenue shot up nearly 30 percent from the year ago quarter.

Investment banking firm Morgan Stanley rose 50 cents to $72.35 after reporting a surge in its third-quarter profit thanks to stronger performance from its institutional securities group, surpassing analysts' expectations.

Falling oil prices reversed early gains for BP PLC, which dropped 20 cents to $65. The company said today that it plans to invest $3 billion in an Indiana refinery, increasing its production of motor fuels by about 15 percent.

Toyota Motor Corp. is aiming to sell 9.8 million vehicles globally in 2008, the company's president said, as the booming Japanese automaker quickens its pace to overtake General Motors as the world's No. 1 while U.S. automakers founder. Its U.S. shares rose 93 cents to $107.29.

Preliminary consolidated volume on the New York Stock Exchange was 2.57 billion shares, up from 2.43 billion yesterday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies was up 9.03, or 1.24 percent, at 734.48.