Nigeria, March 20 -- As anticipated by market observers, the U.S. Federal Reserve ended its meeting by maintaining stable interest rates. Since lower interest rates often boost the economy and stock market, a cut may have come as a welcome surprise to some. Still, it might have also heightened investor concerns that the economy is declining.

The balm came from the Fed's dot plot, which forecasts where central bankers believe interest rates will fall in future years. Given the unclear impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on inflation, some investors were worried going into the meeting that the Fed might not lower interest rates this year.

However, the stock market recovered when the Fed stuck with its projected two cuts for 2...