Fed hints at economic worries as it keeps rate unchanged

The Federal Reserve said US growth slowed late last year and hinted at more worries over global economic weakness as it kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged Wednesday. In the first monetary policy meeting after its historic rate increase in December, the US central bank showed slightly less confidence than a month ago about the trajectory of inflation and growth even as it noted strengthening in the jobs and housing sectors. Coming a week after the European Central Bank gave a strong signa