Fed keeps key rate unchanged for nowWASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve is keeping its key interest rate unchanged but signaled that it will likely raise rates before year’s end.The Fed said in a statement Wednesday that the U.S. job market has continued to strengthen and economic activity has picked up. But it noted that business investment remains soft and inflation too low and that it wants to see further improvement in the job market.The central bank characterized the near-term risks to its economic outlook as “roughly balanced.” It was the first time it has used that wording since late last year, when it most recently raised rates.

Viacom CEO leaving, dividends slashedNEW YORK — Viacom says interim CEO Tom Dooley will leave Nov. 15 and the company is cutting its dividend in half.Dooley was installed after its prior CEO Philippe Dauman was pushed out in August as part of a settlement with National Amusements, a private company that holds controlling stakes in both Viacom and CBS Corp.Viacom, which owns the Paramount Pictures and pay TV channels such as Comedy Central and MTV, has been struggling to improve its profit as its movie studio struggled to produce hits and cable viewership declines.

TVs may use more energy than reportedSAN FRANCISCO — An environmental group on Wednesday accused three major television manufacturers of misleading consumers and regulators about how much energy their high-definition screens devour by designing them to draw less power during government testing than in ordinary use.The report by the Natural Resources Defense Council said the TVs made by Samsung, LG Electronics and Vizio generate tons of additional pollution. The added expense works out to about $10 to $20 per household annually over the anticipated decade-long life of the typical widescreen TV.