The markets expect that the US Federal Reserve will keep interest rates steady when it ends its two-day policy meeting later Wednesday in Washington. That's due to weak inflation and uncertainties over Great Britain's possible departure from the European Union.

The markets instead are already focusing more on what might happen in June as the Fed waits to see if the US economy improves from a first-quarter lull. The US economy grew an estimated 0.9 percent in the first quarter.

Data released Tuesday showed that the US industrial sector remains weak while consumer confidence was slightly lower. Those factors and a possible UK exit from the EU could lead the Fed to delay any rate hikes until later this year.