* Investors expect dovish Fed
* Chances of 'no-deal' Brexit increase
* Apple results provide comfort
* Eyes also on US-China talks in Washington
* Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Danilo Masoni
MILAN, Jan 30 (Reuters) - World stocks inched up and the dollar steadied on Wednesday ahead of policy guidance from the U.S. Federal Reserve, with Apple results providing relief while market confidence that a no-deal Brexit can be avoided took a hit.
The MSCI world equity index .MIWD00000PUS , which tracks shares in 47 countries, was up 0.08 percent by 0909 GMT following gains in Asia overnight and a muted start to trading in Europe. The pan-European STOXX 600 .STOXX benchmark index was flat.
Investors fretted about the possibility of a "no-deal" British departure from the European Union after UK lawmakers instructed Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday to reopen the treaty she had negotiated with Brussels to replace a controversial Irish border arrangement.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) upped its "no-deal" Brexit probability to 15 percent from 10 percent, and cut the chance of Brexit not happening at all to 35 percent from 40 percent. Brexit amendments offered little additional clarity to anyone," Goldman Sachs analysts wrote.
Worries over a disorderly exit of Britain from the club it joined in 1973 hammered the pound overnight and that in turn helped lift the internationally exposed UK top share index .FTSE by 0.8 percent in morning deals. GBP=D3 recovered in morning trade to be up 0.3 percent at $1.3113.
Earlier, Apple AAPL.O results provided some reassurance as the iPhone maker reported sharp growth in its services business. were relieved that there was no more bad news after the company shocked financial markets at the start of this month with a revenue warning that sparked fears that U.S.-China trade tensions were taking a toll on the tech sector.
"Apple earnings delivered enough for investors to come back on board," said Markets.com analyst Neil Wilson.
"Although Apple still faces big questions like pricing structure, upgrade cycles, FX headwinds and weaker Chinese demand, we did get a positive answer to the key question on whether services margins can help rerate the stock higher."
U.S. S&P 500 e-mini futures ESc1 added 0.2 percent, while European tech shares .SX8P were among the best performers in European trading. Luxury stocks, heavily exposed to the Chinese markets, also rose. CEO Tim Cook said trade tensions between the United States and China were easing, lifting the mood before another round of official talks on Wednesday in Washington. two sides will meet next door to the White House in the highest-level talks since U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed a 90-day truce in their trade war in December.
"I expect that the Washington summit will help pave the way for an extension of the trade truce. This is also what markets expect and a failure of the talks is not priced in at all," said Giuseppe Sersale, fund manager at Anthilia Capital.
FED FOCUS
Expectations from Wednesday's Federal Reserve rates review are that policymakers will reinforce their recent dovish stance, given signs of a slowdown in the U.S. economy.
"We believe the Fed is likely to show the flexibility markets are seeking at its upcoming meeting, as it balances still solid domestic economic growth against slower global growth and less significant, but persistent, domestic risks," said John Lynch, Chief Investment Strategist at LPL Financial.
U.S. interest rate futures are pricing in virtually no change in official rates this year.
Investors are looking for hints from Chairman Jerome Powell on whether he has any inclination to slow the drawdown of the Fed's balance sheet by up to $50 billion a month. dollar index - a gauge of its value versus six major peers .DXY - was flat at 95.797.
The Australian dollar AUD=D3 surged 0.5 percent as inflation topped forecasts, while the Chinese yuan CNH=D3 reached a six-month high in the offshore market before the trade talks. commodities, gold XAU= rose 0.2 percent to 8-1/2-month highs of $1,315.3 per ounce, supported by uncertainty over U.S.-China trade relations and expectations the Fed will keep policy on hold. prices inched up, supported by concerns about supply disruptions following U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry but pegged back by a darkening outlook for the global economy. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 added 0.19 percent at $53.41 per barrel, while Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 added 0.10 percent at $61.38 per barrel.
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