US stock market rises early after Fed signals low rates will continue for a while

A Wall Street sign is shown Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 in New York. World stocks were mostly higher Thursday Sept. 18, 2014 as Scotland voted in an independence referendum that could shake the U.K. economy and markets. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) (The Associated Press)

U.S. stocks are opening higher a day after the Federal Reserve made clear it would keep interest rates at record lows for a while.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 29 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,186 in early trading Thursday, building on an all-time closing high from the day before. The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up four points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,006.

The U.S. the central bank on Wednesday maintained its stance of keeping short-term rates near zero for "a considerable time."

Low rates have boosted the market by helping revive the economy and making stocks more attractive compared with bonds.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.63 percent, from 2.62 percent late Wednesday.