U.S. Stocks Open Lower as It's Judgment Day for the Federal Reserve

U.S. stocks opened slightly lower Thursday as investors await the central bank's decision on interest rates. If the Janet Yellen-led Federal Reserve decides to hike rates it will likely be by a small amount. It would be the first fed interest rate hike in 9 years. Analyst Andy Hargreaves at Pacific Crest Securities says sales of the Apple (AAPL) iPhone 6s may not be as strong as believed. He cites reports that iPhone 6s sales tracking at a record is more a reflection of supply, not demand. Hargreaves says said evidence of lower demand comes from Google search data, device shipment times and third party reporting. Rite Aid (RAD) lowered its profit outlook as it integrates its Envision Pharmaceuticals and recorded a loss on retired debt. Weekly initial jobless claims fell 11,000 to 264,000. Housing Starts in August were slightly below expectations.