Fed seen holding rates and policy steady

With signs the deep U.S. economic swoon may be easing, Federal Reserve policy makers appear ready to hold off new measures to flood the economy with money while keeping interest rates steady

U.S. economy shrinks more than expected

The U.S. economy contracted at a steeper-than-expected pace in the first quarter, weighed down by sharp declines in exports and business inventories, according government data on Wednesday that showed the economy was