Investing.com - European shares were higher for a second day, following on from gains in the Asian markets overnight.
The dollar was steady near one-week highs against a the other major currencies ahead of the Fed rate announcement at 2 pm Eastern Time.
With a rate hike priced in investors are now focusing on how quickly the Fed will tighten monetary policy in 2016.
Fed Chair Janet Yellen has indicated that the pace of rate hikes will be gradual.