Stock futures signal flat to higher start, Fed eyed
Stock futures pointed to a flat to higher start for Wall Street on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, with Dow Jones futures up 0.2 percent, S&P 500 futures up 0.3 percent and Nasdaq futures flat at 4:15 a.m. EDT.
Economists forecast the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee will hold the target range for overnight interest rates steady at zero to 0.25 percent until at least 2010. A statement outlining the Fed's policy decision was expected at around 2:15 a.m. EDT.
The dollar fell to a one-year low against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as speculators dumped the low-yielding greenback before the Fed decision.
AMR Corp
In Frankfurt, AMR shares
Microsoft Corp
Separately, the European Union's antitrust chief Neelie Kroes wants to reach a deal with Microsoft in a dispute over web browsers before she leaves her post later this year, she said in an interview published on Wednesday.
Yahoo Inc
Intel Corp
Bank of America
Separately, the bank agreed to turn over more documents to a congressional probe of its purchase of troubled investment bank Merrill Lynch, but some company material remains under wraps for now, a senior lawmaker said.
Lawmakers who back Boeing
Colon cancer drug Erbitux extends survival significantly in patients with a certain genetic profile, according to the final update from an international trial released on Wednesday. The finding is a boost for the drug sold by Merck KGaA
Goldman Sachs'
Oil and gas exploration and production firm SandRidge Energy Inc
U.S. companies reporting on Wednesday included Bed Bath & Beyond Inc .
U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, as investors bet the U.S. Federal Reserve will stick to its accommodative policy to foster economic recovery, boosting growth-sensitive sectors such as financials, technology and industrials.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 51.01 points, or 0.52 percent, to end at 9,829.87. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 7.00 points, or 0.66 percent, to 1,071.66 -- a fresh 11-month closing high. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 8.26 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,146.30.
(Reporting by Dominic Lau; editing by John Stonestreet)
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