The US Federal Reserve, led by Jerome Powell in his final meeting as chairman, decided to maintain benchmark interest rates at 3.5%–3.75% due to ongoing inflationary pressures from rising energy prices. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted 8-4 to keep rates unchanged, noting that while the US economy is stable, inflation remains a concern. Experts suggest that this decision will not significantly impact the Indian stock market, which has shown resilience despite the global energy crisis. VK Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist at Geojit Investments, indicated that the Indian economy is holding up well, but prolonged high crude prices could lead to increased inflation and growth risks. The Fed's pause on interest rates may prevent a sell-off in Indian equities, yet the lack of rate cuts could deter foreign institutional investors from reinvesting in Indian stocks. Additionally, high US rates are drawing global capital towards US assets, further complicating the situation for Indian markets. The ongoing geopolitical tensions and energy price fluctuations will likely continue to shape market dynamics in the near term.