U.S. stocks rose after the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rates by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75% to 5%. That was the first rate cut in over four years that marked the beginning of a monetary-easing cycle in the world's largest economy.

Shortly after market open, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.3% to a new record of 42,105, the S&P 500 rose 1.6% to its new all-time high of 5,713 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq surged 2.3%, though it remains 4% below its July peak.

Wall Street romped to records as a delayed jubilation swept markets worldwide following the Federal Reserve's big cut to interest rates.

SolarEdge Technologies is down 5% after shares of the solar-power-equipment maker were downgraded to Underperform from Hold at Jefferies and the price target cut to $17 from $27. S&P 500 futures are up 0.3%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are adding 0.2%.

The decision by the Fed's policy-setting committee to cut interest rates for the first time since March 2020 was prefaced by an unusual amount of market uncertainty as to how much the central bank would lower its benchmark rate from a two-decade high of 5.25% to 5.5%, where it has stood since July 2023.