US markets end lower

CNBC's Margaret Brennan - It was a volatile Tuesday as traders paused ahead of the Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates through the markets just ending fractionally lower, the Dow 35 points lower, Nasdaq lower by 17. 

So the Federal Reserve isn’t expected to move interest rates from the current 2%, Fed fund rates to 5% primary on Wednesday but financial stocks did gain on Tuesday. That thus makes Regional Banks among them Lehman Brothers and Wachovia both saw more than a 5% gain.

Microsoft-Yahoo saga resurfaces once again. Yahoo shot up more than 8% before closing a little more than 2% higher, Microsoft fractionally lower after CNBC’s Jim Goldman’s reports of continued talks between Yahoo and Microsoft.

Wall Street Action:

Markets volatile, end with modest losses
Dow ends 35 pts lower; Nasdaq 17 pts lower
Fed expected to keep rates unchanged
Banks gain; Lehman Bros and Wachovia up 5%
Crude up to $137/bbl
Yahoo up more than 8%
Microsoft fractionally lower