Global stock markets were subdued Wednesday ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve's first policy meeting under its new chief, AP reported. In early European trading, stock markets were mostly muted with tensions over Russia's annexation of Crimea still in the background. Germany's DAX added 0.4 percent to 9,275.99 while France's CAC 40 drifted 0.2 percent lower to 4,306.34. Britain's FTSE 100 shed 0.1 percent to 6,601.01. On Wall Street, stocks were poised to gain with Dow Jones and Standard & Poor's 500 futures each up 0.1 percent. The U.S. Federal Reserve ends a two-day policy meeting Wednesday, the first headed by new governor Janet Yellen. Earlier in Asia, stocks traded in narrow ranges. The Asian heavyweight index, Tokyo's Nikkei 225, rose 0.4 percent to 14,462.52 bouncing back from earlier losses. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.2 percent to 5,355.60. China's Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.2 percent to 2,021.73. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.1 percent to 1,937.68 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.1 percent to 21,568.69. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude for April delivery was down 12 cents to $99.58 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In currency markets, the euro fell to $1.3908 from $1.3933. The dollar rose to 101.62 yen from 101.43 yen.
