U.S. stock indexes are drifting closer to their records as Wall Street gears up for the most anticipated meeting of the Federal Reserve in years

U.S. stocks rose after the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5%. That was the first rate cut in over four years that marked the beginning of a monetary-easing cycle in the world's largest economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record, as Wall Street geared up for the most anticipated meeting of the Federal Reserve in years. The Dow rose 228 points, or