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US STOCKS-Futures flat to up slightly as Fed statement eyed

Published 09/23/2009, 07:26 AM
Updated 09/23/2009, 07:27 AM

* Fed statement awaited for policy guidance

* AMR, US Airways launch share sales

NEW YORK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve statement that will be scrutinized for an insight into the central bank's assessment of the U.S. economy.

* With the Fed likely to keep interest rates unchanged, investors will focus on whether the central bank will signal any change in a policy that has flooded markets with cheap money. The Fed's statement is expected Wednesday around 2:15 p.m. (1815 GMT).

* The U.S. dollar index briefly fell to a one-year low as speculators dumped the low-yielding greenback before the Fed decision.

* AMR Corp, the parent of American Airlines, and US Airways Group Inc moved to take advantage of rising airline stock prices on Tuesday by launching share sales to raise money for general corporate purposes.

* S&P 500 futures rose 1.9 points and were above fair value, a formula that evaluates pricing by taking into account interest rates, dividends and time to expiration on the contract. Dow Jones industrial average futures gained 5 points and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 4.75 points.

* Yahoo Inc expects its business in Asia to grow in the coming year and to increase its market share if the economy continues to recover, a senior executive told Reuters on Wednesday.

* Bank of America Corp is reducing overdraft and other account fees on a swath of customer accounts in a two-stage process over the next year, the company announced late on Tuesday.

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* Lawmakers who back Boeing Co said they were considering legislative action to ensure the Pentagon did not exempt Airbus parent EADS from U.S. export restrictions and other laws in a $35 billion competition to supply refueling aircraft that resumes this week.

* 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, Eli Lilly & Co and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, which faces competition from Amgen Inc's rival treatment Vectibix.

* U.S. companies reporting results on Wednesday include Bed Bath & Beyond Inc, Paychex Inc and Red Hat Inc.

* U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, as investors bet the Fed will stick to its accommodative policy to foster economic recovery, boosting growth-sensitive sectors such as financials, technology and industrials.

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