London - Europe's main stock markets mostly closed higher on Wednesday, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rising 0.07% to 6 336.48 points.
The Paris CAC 40 climbed 0.46% to 4 111.91 points, while in Frankfurt the DAX 30 edged down 0.02% to 9 544.43 points.
Russia
meanwhile sought to ease concerns over the deep plummet in the value of
the ruble, announcing measures to support the financial system as
Moscow scrambled to head off a run on the currency.
Interest rates
Global markets
have been in turmoil this week owing to concerns about the effect of
plunging oil prices on energy firms as well as the crude-dependent
Russian economy, which is also straining under Western sanctions.
Eyes
were on the outcome of the Fed's two-day meeting, with dealers looking
for some guidance over monetary policy amid growing speculation that the
central bank will raise interest rates by the middle of 2015.
The prospect of a
tighter US monetary policy helped push up the dollar, with the euro
sliding to $1.2468 from $1.2498 late in New York on Tuesday. The British
pound also lost ground to the dollar and was at $1.5717.