Dow Jones Industrial Average Holds Steady as Fed Decision Nears

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is holding higher at the halfway point, as stocks fight for upside ahead of this afternoon's Fed decision. With an interest rate hike seemingly baked into the market, traders will analyze Fed Chair Janet Yellen's 2:30 p.m. ET press conference for future rate-hike clues. Oil's recovery is also helping sentiment today, as April-dated crude futures have added 1.8% to trade at $48.58 per barrel, on pace to snap a seven-session losing streak. On the economic front, the consumer price index and retail sales both rose just 0.1% in February, roughly matching forecasts, while homebuilder confidence surged to a 12-year high. 

Continue reading for more on today's market -- and don't miss:

• 4 reasons RBC sees record highs for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
• The Dow component analysts are calling "a better company than stock." 
• Plus, the booming penny stock seeing unusual call volume; the worst stock on the NYSE; and NeoPhotonics' wild day. 

Among the names seeing accelerated options trading today is marketing stock Rocket Fuel Inc (NASDAQ:FUEL). While fewer than 400 FUEL calls on average trade each day, 1,560 April 5 calls have crossed today, and data suggests buy-to-open activity. FUEL stock has been on fire this year, more than doubling in value to trade at $3.78. 

The Rubicon Project Inc (NYSE:RUBI) is the worst stock on the New York Stock Exchange, as traders pan the company's earnings report and new CEO. RUBI was last seen 26.8% lower at $6.14, and on the short-sale restricted list. Earlier today, RUBI touched a new record low of $6.06.