Shares of the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) fell 1.06% to $282.11 Wednesday afternoon, leading broader market declines after a hawkish Federal Reserve interest-rate decision and press conference. Major stock indexes turned lower after the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed's rate-setting committee, raised interest rates, while selling accelerated during Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's press conference and question-and-answer session. Warsh said the central bank remains committed to returning inflation to its 2% target on a timely basis and cited an FOMC consensus that current financial conditions are not restrictive enough. He also pointed to inflation categories remaining above 3% over three- and six-month periods. The stance reduced expectations for monetary easing and prompted investors to de-risk equity portfolios. Small-cap companies tracked by the Russell 2000 are particularly exposed because they carry a higher share of floating-rate debt and face more immediate refinancing needs over the next 12 to 24 months. Persistent restrictive borrowing costs could pressure profit margins and interest-coverage ratios for smaller businesses, helping drive IWM to its session low.