MILAN — Global stocks dropped today after the U.S. Federal Reserve’s chairman indicated there were no immediate plans to boost growth in the world’s largest economy, wiping out gains made on China’s surprise interest rate cut.

In an appearance before members of the U.S. Congress, Ben Bernanke avoided giving any signals about what the Fed might do in response to a slowdown in hiring. The 69,000 jobs created in May were the fewest in a year.

Markets, which had earlier risen Thursday on news that China had made its first interest rate cut in more than three years, fell back down today.

Francis Lun, managing director of Lyncean Holdings in Hong Kong, said markets were “slightly disappointed” that Bernanke had not said the Fed would extend its Treasury bond-buying program, known as quantitative easing. The program injects money into the financial system, lowering interest rates to spur lending and growth.

“The economy is slowing much faster than people expected,” he said.