London — World stocks nudged lower, bond yields fell and a hush settled on the dollar, with investors certain the Federal Reserve will lift interest rates for the first time in a year on Wednesday but less so about what it may do in 2017. European shares lost 0.3% in early trade, while US stock futures were also slightly weaker, suggesting a cautious start to trade after Tuesday’s stock market rally to new record highs. Asian stocks outside Japan eked out just a 0.1% gain, while benchmark indices in Japan and China dithered either side of flat with investors reluctant to push shares much higher before the Fed meeting. The Fed is widely tipped to lift rates 25 basis points to 0.75% when it concludes a two-day policy meeting on Wednesday. Its rate announcement is due at 7pm GMT, followed by chairwoman Janet Yellen’s news conference 30 minutes later. It would be the Fed’s first interest rate hike in a year and its second since the financial crisis. With a rise fully priced in by market...
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