Major US stock indices fell Tuesday as wary
investors await the Federal Reserve's announcement on monetary policy
Wednesday.
The US central bank began a two-day policy meeting Tuesday to
discuss possible stimulus measures. The European Central Bank and
Bank of England are scheduled to conclude similar meetings Thursday.
Earlier this month Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke suggested
the central bank might be ready to increase recession-easing
measures.
The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 64.33 points,
or 0.49 per cent, to 13,008.68. The broader Standard & Poor's 500
Index slipped 5.97 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 1,379.33. The
technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index fell 6.32 points, or 0.21 per
cent, to 2,939.52.
The US currency dropped against the euro to 81.27 euro cents from
81.58 euro cents on Monday. The dollar slipped against the Japanese
currency to 78.12 yen from 78.17 yen.
