Traders and investors alike will comb the statement and comments from Chair Yellen during today’s press conference for any clues to interest rate hikes, potentially generating volatility. We will re-open the trading room this afternoon at 1:45 pm ET to trade the FOMC statement and press conference. To gain access to the special trading session, click here.

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WORLD HEADLINES – Stocks rallied around the world as tweaks to the Bank of Japan’s monetary stimulus offered support to financial institutions. Treasuries and the dollar were little changed before a Federal Reserve policy decision while oil rallied before a meeting of producers next week.

STOCKS – Futures on the S&P 500 Index added 0.4 percent, having extended gains after the BOJ’s announcement.

BONDS – Ten year maturity U.S. Treasuries rose by one basis point to 1.70 percent and Germany’s yield increased by two basis points to zero.

COMMODITIES – Crude oil climbed as much as 2.5 percent ahead of a government update on U.S. stockpile levels. Inventories fell by 7.5 million barrels last week, the American Petroleum Institute was said to have reported late on Tuesday ahead of the official figures.

CURRENCIES – US dollar traded sideways ahead of the much anticipated FOMC statement due later today.

ECONOMIC DATA – CAD Wholesale Sales m/m at 8:30, Crude Oil Inventories at 10:30, FOMC Statement at 14:00, FOMC Press Conference at 14:30, NZB RBNZ Rate Statement at 17:00 ET.

COMMODITY FUTURES, OPTIONS, AND FOREX TRADING INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISK AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS.