Fed opens first meeting since historic rate rise

The Federal Reserve opened Tuesday its first policy meeting since a historic rate rise last month with weak inflation and global market turbulence clouding its plans. Days after the European Central Bank signaled it could expand stimulus measures if inflation slows further, Fed policymakers will weigh whether the confidence in the US economy that underpinned their first rate increase in more than nine years in December holds up. While no policy action is expected at the end of the two-day Federa