WASHINGTON (AP) – The Latest on the U.S. Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting, which ends Wednesday. The central bank is expected to keep rates steady amid uncertainty about the global economy and financial markets. (All times local)
7:20 a.m.
Investors are cautious with the U.S. Federal Reserve wrapping up its two-day meeting. They are looking for hints as to when the central bank might raise interest rates again.
The Fed is expected to keep rates on hold Wednesday, but it will issue a statement, update its economic forecasts and Chair Janet Yellen will speak.
In December, the Fed raised its benchmark rate for the first time in nearly a decade. But volatility in financial markets and a slowdown in global economic growth have since then raised concern that the U.S. economy might not be strong enough to handle another rate increase now.
Rate increases can weigh on stocks because they make borrowing marginally more expensive, and that has the potential to slow economic activity.
In European trading, Germany’s DAX rose 0.5 percent. Japan’s Nikkei is down 0.83 percent. Dow and S&P 500 futures are essentially flat.