In European Equity Markets supportive crude prices and strong results from energy firms and auto companies helped stocks rise on Wednesday. The pan-European STOXX 600 ended up 0.5 percent, broadly in line with euro zone stocks and blue-chips. Tullow Oil rose 7.9 percent after higher output from new fields helped sales at the Africa-focused oil producer rise 46 percent in the first half, though it also reported impairment charges due to low oil prices. Peugeot maker PSA Group jumped 3.2 percent, leading autos higher after the firm hit a new profitability record, beating analyst expectations with an increase in sales for the first half.

In Currency Markets the dollar was steady on Wednesday, edging just above a 13-month low touched the previous session against a basket of major currencies, and trading in a tight range ahead of an announcement from the U.S. Federal Reserve later in the day.  The dollar jumped 0.7 percent against the Swiss franc to 0.9590 franc, its highest in nearly a week. The Swiss franc also fell to its lowest levels against the euro in 18 months, weakening 0.6 percent to 1.1154 per euro. The euro lost 0.1 percent to $1.1640. Against the Japanese yen, the dollar was also little changed at 111.80 yen. The dollar index was 0.1 percent higher at 94.151.

In Commodities Markets oil prices rose to near eight-week highs on Wednesday, with Brent crude futures at over $50 a barrel, as a fall in U.S. inventories bolstered expectations that the long-oversupplied market was moving toward balance. Brent crude futures were up 67 cents to $50.87 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures climbed 83 cents to $48.72 a barrel. Crude inventories fell 7.2 million barrels in the week ending July 21, more than the expected decrease of 2.6 million barrels.  U.S. gold futures for August delivery fell 0.3 percent to $1,247.90 per ounce. Silver fell 0.1 percent to $16.47 per ounce. Platinum edged 0.5 percent lower to $922 per ounce, while palladium rose 0.6 percent to $861.35 per ounce.

In US Equity Markets stocks rose on Wednesday, with all three major indexes hitting record highs, while investors awaited the outcome of a two-day Federal Reserve meeting. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.48 percent, at 21,717.67 and the S&P 500 was up 0.04 percent, at 2,478.26. The Nasdaq Composite was up 0.16 percent, at 6,422.57. Boeing rose 8.2 percent to an all-time high, while AT&T gained 4 percent, after the two companies posted higher-than-expected quarterly profit.  General Dynamics fell 4.5 percent after the maker of jets, tanks and U.S. Navy ships said it expects lower profit margins in the second half of 2017. Advanced Micro Devices jumped 10.6 percent after the chipmaker raised its full-year revenue expectations.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury prices gained slightly on Wednesday as investors waited on the Federal Reserve’s statement from its two-day July meeting to see if the U.S. central bank gives any new indications about when it will begin paring its bond holdings and next raise interest rates. Benchmark 10-year notes gained 3/32 in price to yield 2.32 percent, down from 2.33 percent on Tuesday. Germany’s 10-year government bond yield was 1.5 bps lower, after rising 7 bps the day before.