Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the United States, Dec. 20, 2018. U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday as investors digested the central bank's latest rate hike decision. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 464.06 points, or 1.99 percent, to 22,859.60. The S&P 500 fell 39.54 points, or 1.58 percent, to 2,467.42. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 108.42 points, or 1.63 percent, to 6,528.41. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

NEW YORK, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday as investors digested the central bank's latest rate hike decision.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 464.06 points, or 1.99 percent, to 22,859.60. The S&P 500 fell 39.54 points, or 1.58 percent, to 2,467.42. The Nasdaq Composite Index fell 108.42 points, or 1.63 percent, to 6,528.41.

The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, but signaled a slower pace of rate hikes next year as the U.S. economy is expected to cool down.

"In view of realized and expected labor 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 percent," 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.

The Fed said the U.S. labor market has "continued to strengthen" and economic activity has been "rising at a strong rate" since the last policy meeting in November, while growth of business fixed investment has "moderated" from its rapid pace earlier in the year.

Markets have been rattled throughout the year amid fears of rapid interest rate hikes. Such concerns grew more credible over the past month as growth expectations retreated.

Rising interest rates can be a hurdle to smaller companies that carry a high proportion of debt, so any sign that the Fed plans to continue to raise rates each quarter could weigh on corporate sentiment.