With inflationary pressures easing last month, investors consider Wednesday's decision as almost probable, but predict no further rises, despite the FOMC's June forecast of a final hike later this year.

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Get up to speed on what the markets are watching. Good day. The Fed's policy meeting, mixed tech earnings, and a billionaire charged with insider trading in the United States are all topics of discussion. Here is what everyone is talking about.

Federal Reserve Decision

Fed policymakers are expected to raise interest rates to their highest level in 22 years, while maintaining a tightening stance that suggests another boost later this year. The FOMC is likely to hike interest rates by a quarter point to 5.25% to 5.5%, the 11th increase since early 2022.

Investors will be looking for signs from Chair Jerome Powell about how motivated the Fed is to hike interest rates again in 2023. With inflationary pressures easing last month, investors consider Wednesday's decision as almost probable, but predict no further rises, despite the FOMC's June forecast of a final hike later this year.

Technology Earnings

Google parent Alphabet's stock rose in late trade after the company posted second-quarter revenue that above analysts' estimates, bolstered by advertising on its namesake search operation. CFO Ruth Porat will take assume the newly established job of president and chief investment officer, beginning in September, according to the corporation. Meanwhile, Microsoft declined due to sluggish sales growth and a weakening demand for cloud services. Snap also fell after anticipating a larger-than-expected loss for the third quarter. Meta is planning to release the results on Wednesday.

Insider trading

Joe Lewis, the owner of the Tottenham Hotspur football club in London, has been accused with insider trading in the United States. In a New York indictment, federal prosecutors claimed that the 86-year-old passed on inside information from companies in which he was an investor to pals, including his personal pilots, aides, and love relationships. Lewis, the creator of the Tavistock Group, is facing a slew of allegations, including securities fraud. Prosecutors allege that he was involved in insider trading for eight years.

NatWest Cheif Resigns

NatWest CEO Alison Rose is stepping down following a dispute over how the British bank cancelled accounts held by politician-turned-pundit Nigel Farage. Rose, who has managed the bank since November 2019, will leave by "mutual consent," according to an emailed statement from the company. Paul Thwaite, who oversees the firm's commercial and institutional divisions, will serve as temporary CEO for a year. Rose's exit comes just weeks after Farage slammed Coutts' decision to cut him off.

Coming soon.

European stocks are expected to open cautiously ahead of the Fed's rate announcement. Data on French consumer confidence is expected. As firms such as Rio Tinto, Airbus, and Equinor report earnings, there will be a deluge of data to sort through.

This is what has piqued our interest in the last 24 hours.

Deutsche Bank announces a $500 million repurchase as part of its payment push.

Subsidy wars are heating up, with US allies being pressed to pay or lose out.

The owner of L'Occitane is rumoured to be considering a $4.2 billion takeover.

Finally, here's what's interesting this morning. Traders expect the Swiss franc to profit from the Fed and European Central Bank policy decisions this week: Since 2000, the franc has outperformed when central banks reverse their hawkish attitude.