STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Index futures point to higher open

European stock index futures point to a higher open following steep losses in the previous session, with investors bracing for the U.S. Federal Reserve's statement on interest rates and the economy.

Futures for the DJ Euro STOXX STXEc1, for Germany's DAX FDXc1 and for France's CAC FCEc1 are up 0.5-0.7 percent.

The Fed is expected to reaffirm that policies to support the economy will stay in place for some time, even as signs of recovery mount. [ID:nFEDAHEAD]

European shares dropped 1.2 percent on Tuesday, hitting a one-month closing low, with disappointing results from Swiss lender UBS (UBSN.VX) weighing on banking stocks.

MAJOR EUROPEAN COMPANIES REPORTING:

Interim Bank of Ireland (BKIR.I)

Interim FirstGroup plc (FGP.L)

Interim Marks and Spencer Group plc (MKS.L)