TREASURIES-Steady in Asia before Fed, weak data supports

* Fed's post-meeting statement likely to be balanced

* Near-term rate hike expectations seen waning

* Durable goods and new home sales data eyed

By Chikako Mogi

TOKYO, June 25 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasuries were steady in Asia on Wednesday as players braced for a Federal Reserve statement due later in the day to gauge the timing of a rate hike, as well as data for clues on the state of the U.S. economy.

The Fed is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 2.00 percent, after having slashed the short-term target rate from 5.25 percent since September.

The Fed's policy statement will accompany its rate decision, which is expected around 1815 GMT.

With energy and commodities prices surging, market players had expected Fed policymakers would deliver a stronger anti-inflation message in the statement, possibly hinting at a near-term rate increase.

Such views waned after data on Tuesday showed sagging home prices and consumer confidence.

The perception of a steady Fed policy at least through the summer spurred strong investor buying at Tuesday's sale of $30 billion in new two-year notes.

"The Fed's statement will likely be balanced, expressing stronger concerns about inflation pressures while maintaining wariness over a growth slowdown, thus keeping a neutral stance on the monetary policy outlook," said a dealer at a Japanese trust bank.

"It is very difficult for the Fed to raise interest rates which will boost housing loan and other mortgage costs and further burden consumers, when credit worries are still lingering and economic conditions remain fragile," he said.

Traders still expect two quarter-percentage-point rate increases by year-end, according to interest rate futures. FEDWATCH. But some dealers said the market will likely scale back such expectations when more weak data are released.

Prior to the Fed's policy announcement, data on mortgage applications, durable goods and new home sales will be reported.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note was barely moved, yielding 4.105 percent US10YT=RR, compared with 4.103 percent in late U.S. trading on Tuesday.

Two-year Treasury notes US2YT=RR yielded 2.908 percent, compared with 2.92 percent in late U.S. trade.