ISTANBUL

US stock markets ended mixed Wednesday as investors assessed the risks to the inflation outlook.

Minutes of the Federal Reserve’s last meeting revealed that Fed officials pointed to inflation risks from US President-elect Donald Trump's trade and immigration policies.

The minutes showed that upside inflation risks were considered to have increased.

According to US data released earlier in the day, private sector employment increased by 122,000 people in December last year, below market expectations.

The number of people in the US applying for unemployment benefits for the first time decreased to 201,000 in the last week, falling to the lowest level in 11 months and below market expectations.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 106.84 points or 0.25% to end the day at 42,635.20.

The S&P 500 increased by 9.22 points or 0.16% to 5,918.25, while the Nasdaq Composite fell by 10.80 points or 0.05% to 19,478.88.

The New York stock exchange will be closed Thursday as part of a national day of mourning for the death of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the US.