Inflation accelerated slightly for the month of October, sparking concern the Fed could pause its interest rate-cutting cycle in January.

The Dow and the S&P 500 ended slightly higher on Wednesday while the Nasdaq lost ground after October data showed consumer prices rising in line with expectations, adding support to bets that the U.S.

U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed finish after the latest inflation update boosted hopes that more help for the economy will arrive next month from another cut to interest rates.

Wall Street's main indexes were steady on Wednesday after in-line consumer price inflation data kept the Federal Reserve on track to cut interest rates in December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 30.