Wall Street closes mixed after Fed minutes released

NEW YORK (AA) – Wall Street closed mixed Wednesday after minutes of the last the Federal Reserve’s minutes showed a divided central bank on interest rates.

The Dow gained 15 points to end the day at 18,144 points and the S&P 500 was up two points to 2,139. The Nasdaq lost seven points to 5,239.

Minutes of the Fed's September meeting revealed the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members are widely divided on key issues.

Officials differed on whether a rate hike would push the American economy into recession. Members also could not agree on how much longer the central bank should wait for inflation to reach its 2 percent target level.

The widening divisions make the possibility of a rate hike less clear and leave investors confused, analysts said, but added that it is less likely for the bank to increase its benchmark interest rate Nov. 2 – less than a week before the presidential elections.

The FOMC will hold its last meeting in December.