US stocks finished firmly lower yesterday after the Federal Reserve suggested more interest rates were possible in 2016 despite economic uncertainty that has roiled markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 222.77 points (1.38 per cent) to 15,944.46. The broad-based S&P 500 dropped 20.68 points (1.09 per cent) to 1,882.95, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index slumped 99.51 points (2.18 per cent) to 4,468.17. The Fed, concluding its first policy meeting since an historic decision to hike rates in December, said US growth slowed late last year and hinted at more worries about global economic weakness as it kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged.