The Dow industrials broke back above 9,000 today as stocks rose sharply before a Federal Reserve meeting expected to produce another cut in interest rates.

Closing at its highest level since late July, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 91.66 points to 9,011.25, with a late burst of buying boosting the measure above 9,000 after several failed forays earlier in the day.

The broad market finished mixed, however, with smaller companies lagging the blue-chip advance despite the enthusiasm that took hold near the close.

The Standard and Poor's 500 rose 10.14 to 1,135.86, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 13.73 to 1,861.72.

NYSE volume totalled 610.08 million shares, against 600.25 million in the previous session.