TORONTO -- The futures market suggested U.S. stock markets were set to open lower after the U.S. Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at a record low.

Fed policy-makers voted Wednesday to leave interest rates unchanged and gave no indication a rise was imminent.

The Fed said the U.S. economy is improving but signalled that it wants to see further economic gains and higher inflation before raising rates.

Meanwhile, the loonie slipped 0.29 of a cent to 76.97 cents US.

The September contract for crude oil gained 20 cents at US$48.99, while the September natural gas contract slipped two cents at US$2.844.

The September gold contract lost US$8.20 at US$1,084.60