WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is expected to keep U.S. monetary policy locked in crisis-fighting mode at its meeting ending on Wednesday as policymakers assess an economy still struggling through the shock of a pandemic but looking forward to relief from ongoing vaccinations and new government spending plans.

LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's share indexes fell on Wednesday and Wall Street futures were in the red as investors turned more cautious about COVID-19 and stretched stock valuations, with the U.S Federal Reserve meeting and tech giants' earnings also in focus.

(Reuters) - As top investment bankers orchestrated major deals through Zoom during the coronavirus pandemic, junior staffers say they were often sitting home, bored and alone, discouraged by an industry that has struggled to retain fresh talent.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence rose moderately in January while lingering concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic led to a further deterioration in households' perceptions of the labor market, raising the risk of a second straight month of job losses.

LONDON (Reuters) - London has no desire for a bonfire of regulations to retain its position as a top international finance centre after Brexit but it is ready to act if the European Union blocks access, the City of London's political leader said.

OSLO (Reuters) - Nasdaq Clearing has been fined 300 million Swedish crowns ($36 million) by Sweden's financial supervisory authority (FI) over the default of a power trader in 2018 that showed deficiencies in its operations, the FI said on Wednesday.

(Reuters) - European stocks were largely flat on Wednesday due to losses in technology and mining sectors and as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's policy decision.

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar edged higher against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as markets waited for comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who is likely to renew a commitment to ultra-easy policy.