the sp 500s technology sector edged higher after the federal reserve released a statement saying that its hiking its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point an increase widely expected by the market information tech shares in the index were up 03 the sole sector with gains according to factset data at last check meanwhile the sp 500 index spx was down 03 with its remaining 10 sectors all showing losses factset data show at last check fed chair jerome powell is scheduled to hold a press conference at 230 pm eastern time