Australian shares are expected to open lower on Wednesday as investors track losses on Wall Street ahead of the US Federal Reserve's rate decision.
The Westpac Leading Index is slated for release at 11 am Sydney time.
The US central bank's Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to keep the benchmark lending rate unchanged as it concludes its two-day meeting later. Markets will also keep an eye out for the Fed's economic projections and clues on the rates' path in the context of the tariff war.
Wall Street was sharply lower overnight. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.7%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.6%.
In company news, Myer Holdings (ASX:MYR) reported Wednesday that its earnings per diluted share in the fiscal first half fell to AU$0.036 from AU$0.06 a year earlier.
WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) is under regulatory scrutiny as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission called the company's former independent directors to provide evidence amid controversy over releasing a board review into founder Richard White's conduct, the Australian Financial Review reported Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.
Australia's benchmark index was little changed at 7,860.40 on Tuesday.