World stocks were muted as investors awaited an update on the U.S. economy later Wednesday from the Federal Reserve following its two-day policy meeting, while Japanese markets rose on a weaker yen, AP reported. The FTSE 100 index of leading British companies gained 0.4 percent to 6,793.60 while Germany's DAX rose 0.3 percent to 9,952.61. France's CAC 40 added 0.2 percent to 4,546.27. U.S. stocks were little changed, with Dow futures nearly flat at 16,732.00 and broader S&P 500 futures up less than 0.1 percent to 1,934.40. In Asia, most benchmarks ended lower, except in Japan, where the Nikkei 225 rose 0.9 percent to close at 15,115.80 as the dollar strengthened 0.1 percent to 102.25 yen. South Korea's Kospi shed 0.6 percent to 1,989.49 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was flat at 23,181.72. In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.5 percent to 2,055.52. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3 percent to 5,382.70. Woodside Petroleum Ltd. led declines on the Australian market, falling 4.6 percent a day after oil giant Royal Dutch Shell PLC said it's selling a 19 percent stake worth around $5 billion. Benchmarks in New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines also fell. In energy trading, benchmark crude oil for July delivery added 41 cents to $106.77 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped 54 cents to settle at $106.36 on Monday. The euro fell to $1.3561 from $1.3547 in late trading Tuesday.
