Wednesday preview: Fed meeting, Russia-Ukraine talks in focus

The Fed is widely expected to raise the target range for the Fed funds rate by 25 basis points to 0.25-0.50%.

Economists at Barclays Research expects that the Fed will announce the pace at which it will begin to runoff its balance sheet.

Runoff would begin slowly but accelerate quickly over the course of a few months to reach a monthly pace of reduction of $80bn between Treasuries and agency mortgage backed securities combined, they predicted.

Across the Channel meanwhile, European Central Bank governing council members, Fabio Panetta and Frank Elderson, are due to participate at two different venues.

Investors will be watching for any policy relevant remarks.

A final reading on Italian consumer price inflation in February is also due out.

No major economic releases are scheduled in the UK.

In the background, investors will be closely monitoring the headlines around talks between Kyiv and Moscow, including a speech to the US Congress from Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Wednesday 16 March

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Business Inventories (US) (14:00)

Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

Empires State Manufactacturing (US) (12:30)

Import and Export Price Indices (US) (12:30)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (11:00)

Retail Sales (US) (12:30)

FINALS

4Imprint Group, Advanced Medical Solutions Group, Centaur Media, CLS Holdings, CLS Holdings, Computacenter, Ferrexpo, IP Group, IP Group, Pharos Energy , Restaurant Group, RPS Group, Science In Sport

AGMS

IDOX, Safestore Holdings, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (ATT) GDR (Reg S)

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Price Index (07:00)

Producer Price Index (07:00)

Retail Price Index (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Tharisa (DI)