U.S. futures signal flat to higher start, Fed eyed

* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat to higher start for Wall Street on Wednesday ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, with Dow Jones futures DJc1 up 0.2 percent, S&P 500 SPc1 futures up 0.3 percent and Nasdaq futures NDc1 flat at 0815 GMT. * Economists forecast the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee will hold the target range for overnight interest rates steady at zero to 0.25 percent until at least 2010. A statement outlining the Fed's policy decision was expected at around 1815 GMT.

* The dollar fell to a one-year low against a basket of currencies on Wednesday as speculators dumped the low-yielding greenback before the Fed decision.

* AMR Corp (AMR.N), the parent of American Airlines, and US Airways Group Inc (LCC.N) moved to take advantage of rising airline stock prices on Tuesday by launching share sales to raise money for general corporate purposes. [ID:nN22372589]

In Frankfurt, AMR shares (AMR.F) were down 1.7 percent, while US Airways shares (LCC.F) shed 6.7 percent.

* Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) is developing a small tablet-style PC to rival a similar product that may be launched by Apple Inc (AAPL.O), technology blog Gizmodo reported on Tuesday. [ID:nN22373971]

Separately, the European Union's antitrust chief Neelie Kroes wants to reach a deal with Microsoft in a dispute over web browsers before she leaves her post later this year, she said in an interview published on Wednesday. [ID:nLN469268]

* Yahoo Inc (YHOO.O) expects its business in Asia to grow in the coming year and to increase its market share if the economy continues to recover, a senior executive told Reuters on Wednesday. [ID:nSEO312687]

* Intel Corp (INTC.O) rolled out a software developers' platform on Tuesday and said it will step up efforts to boost revenue from consumer electronics and other markets beyond its core, maturing personal computer business. [ID:nN22352528]

* Bank of America (BAC.N) is reducing overdraft and other account fees on a swath of customer accounts in a two-stage process over the next year, the company announced late on Tuesday. [ID:nN22373976]

Separately, the bank agreed to turn over more documents to a congressional probe of its purchase of troubled investment bank Merrill Lynch, but some company material remains under wraps for now, a senior lawmaker said. [ID:nN22371339]

* Lawmakers who back Boeing (BA.N) said they were considering legislative action to ensure the Pentagon did not exempt Airbus parent EADS (EAD.PA) from U.S. export restrictions and other laws in a $35-billion competition to supply refuelling aircraft that resumes this week. [ID:nN22370494]

* Colon cancer drug Erbitux extends survival significantly in patients with a certain genetic profile, according to the final update from an international trial released on Wednesday. The finding is a boost for the drug sold by Merck KGaA (MRCG.DE), Eli Lilly (LLY.N) and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY.N), which faces competition from Amgen's (AMGN.O) rival treatment Vectibix. [ID:nLM336604]

* Goldman Sachs' (GS.N) $334 million investment in Geely Automobile (0175.HK) will boost the Chinese automaker's global ambitions, including a potential bid by its parent for Ford's (F.N) Volvo brand. [ID:nHKG311594]

* Oil and gas exploration and production firm SandRidge Energy Inc (SD.N) has struck a deal to buy bankrupt rival Crusader Energy Group for $230 million in a cash and stock deal. [ID:nSP466456]

* U.S. companies reporting on Wednesday included Bed Bath & Beyond Inc (BBBY.O), Cintas Corp (CTAS.O), General Mills (GIS) and Paychex (PAYX.O).

* U.S. stocks rose on Tuesday, as investors bet the U.S. Federal Reserve will stick to its accommodative policy to foster economic recovery, boosting growth-sensitive sectors such as financials, technology and industrials.

* The Dow Jones industrial average gained 51.01 points, or 0.52 percent, to end at 9,829.87. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 7.00 points, or 0.66 percent, to 1,071.66 -- a fresh 11-month closing high. The Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 8.26 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,146.30.

(Reporting by Dominic Lau; editing by John Stonestreet)