Global stocks rise on bet Fed won't taper yet

PARIS - Global stocks rose Wednesday, as investors appeared increasingly confident that the U.S. Federal Reserve won't announce a reduction in its economic stimulus later.

The Fed's $85 billion of monthly bond purchases have kept U.S. interest rates low to encourage economic recovery, but also sent a flood of money into stock markets worldwide in search of higher returns.

But on Wednesday, a day after most markets were down, investors seemed to find new confidence that the Fed will maintain its current level of purchases.

"Tapering is likely the only thing on most investors mind today," said Alex Conroy, financial sales trader at Spreadex.

Conroy added that Wednesday's higher stock prices "would suggest investors are again attempting to position themselves for no taper. If the last few months are anything to go by, expect huge volatility today as investors attempt to get ahead of the Fed."

In Europe, investors were also encouraged by signs the Germany economy is picking up steam. The Ifo institute's closely watched business confidence index climbed to 109.5 points this month from 109.3 in November -- a signal managers anticipate faster economic growth in the new year.

In morning trading, France's CAC-40 was up 0.6 percent to 4,093, while Germany's DAX rose 0.9 percent to 9,168. The FTSE index of British shares climbed 0.4 percent to 6,511.

Wall Street seemed poised to open higher. Dow futures were up 0.3 percent to 15,864 while the broader S&P futures rose 0.4 percent to 1,779.

The dollar's near term fortunes will likely rest on what the Fed does. It was trading fairly flat in the run-up to the decision, with the euro down 0.1 percent at $1.3752.

Earlier in Asia, stocks mostly rose. Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 2 percent higher at 15,587.80, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed 0.3 percent to 23,243.82.

China's Shanghai Composite index edged down 0.1 percent to 2,148.29 and South Korea's Kospi finished 0.5 percent higher, at 1,974.63.