New York, Dec 20 (IANS): US stocks fell after the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate for the fourth time this year.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Wednesday plunged 351.98 points, or 1.49 per cent, to 23,323.66. The S&P 500 decreased 39.2 points, or 1.54 per cent, to 2,506.96, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Nasdaq Composite Index was down 147.08 points, or 2.17 per cent, to 6,636.83.

All but one of the 30 components of the Dow closed lower. All the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors closed lower, with consumer discretionary and technology down 2.23 per cent and 1.94 per cent, respectively, leading the laggards.

Of the S&P 500 member stocks, 60 per cent ended up in bear market territory on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announced its decision to raise short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point.

"In view of realised and expected labour market conditions and inflation, the (Federal Open Market) Committee decided to raise the target range for the federal funds rate to 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 per cent," the Fed said in a statement after concluding a two-day policy meeting.

It marked the Fed's fourth rate hike this year and the ninth such move since late 2015, as the central bank moves forward on the path of monetary policy normalization.

Meanwhile, during a press conference, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell indicated the Fed was likely to raise rates twice in 2019.

Investors fretted over the interest rate spike, fearing that rising borrowing costs could slow down the economy, experts noted.