 |  | Oil prices firm on optimism over declining stocks |  | SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices firmed on Wednesday to hold near eight-week highs hit in the previous session, on expectations of a drawdown in U.S. stocks and as a rise in shale oil production shows signs of slowing. | |  |  |  | Fed expected to leave rates unchanged; balance sheet in focus |  | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates unchanged on Wednesday and possibly hint that it will start winding down its massive holdings of bonds as soon as September in what would be a vote of confidence in the U.S. economy. | |  | |  |  | |  |  | Related Video | |  | |  | |  |  |  |  |  | Make sense of the market with highlights of valuable financial information and reports along with compelling investment insights. Register Today |  | |  |  |  | The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today |  | |  | » » MORE NEWSLETTERS |  | |