In European Equity Markets the pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 0.29 percent higher at the end of the day. Basic resources was the biggest losing sector of the day, shedding 1 percent in value. Bouygues rose 2.66 percent after J.P. Morgan upgraded the stock to overweight from neutral and raised its price target to 46 euros from 42 euros. Airbus saw shares move higher by 3.24 percent on Wednesday. European regulators have granted a crucial certification to its A330-900 plane. Entry into service for the wide-body jet remains planned for 2018.

In Currency Markets the US dollar rose to a one-week high on Wednesday before a widely anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate hike, although investors were still on edge about a trade spat between the United States and China. The euro traded down 0.4 percent at $1.1730, mainly due to profit-taking after it touched a 3-1/2-month high on Monday as European Central Bank President Mario Draghi expressed confidence in euro zone inflation and wage growth. The outlook for the euro has brightened and market participants are positioning for a rebound.

In Commodities Markets oil prices eased on Wednesday after U.S. data showed a surprise build in domestic crude inventories, but an impending drop in Iranian exports kept Brent futures above $80 a barrel and on track for a fifth straight quarterly gain. Global benchmark Brent fell 37 cents to $81.50 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures lost 43 cents to $71.85 a barrel. U.S. crude inventories rose by 1.9 million barrels in the week to Sept. 21, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Analysts had expected a decrease of 1.3 million barrels.

In US Equity Markets healthcare stocks helped prop up Wall Street on Wednesday, although banks fell ahead of a widely expected interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve. The S&P 500 was up 0.25 percent, at 2,922.95 and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.34 percent, at 8,035.08. Six of the 11 major S&P 500 sectors were higher, led by the health sector’s 0.73 percent gain. Alexion Pharmaceuticals gained 5.6 percent on a deal to buy privately held Syntimmune in a $1.2 billion deal. The Nasdaq biotech index rose 1.03 percent, led by Biogen, which advanced 2.4 percent.

In Bond Markets U.S. Treasury yields fell on Wednesday with longer-dated yields receding from four-month highs as traders braced for a possible third interest rate increase this year from the Federal Reserve in response to solid economic growth. Benchmark 10-year Treasury yield was 3.085 percent, down 2 basis points from Tuesday. On Tuesday, it reached 3.113 percent, its highest since May, Reuters data showed. Two-year yields fell 1 basis point to 2.831 percent after touching 2.847 percent on Tuesday, which was last seen in June 2008.