FOMC Rate Decision: Tomorrow's Headliners

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The Federal Reserve's policy-making arm will make headlines when it releases its latest statement on interest rates and the economy Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. EDT, but investors will have plenty else to manage during the session.

The Federal Open Market Committee's decision will ultimately take top billing, as investors are highly anticipating the central bank's outlook on the U.S. economy. When the FOMC last convened in June, its members said the pace of economic contraction appears to be slowing, and conditions in financial markets have generally improved in recent months, although "economic activity is likely to remain weak for a time."

As it has done at its last five meetings, the central bank is expected to maintain a target range for the fed funds rate at zero to 0.25%. Instead, any changes to the Fed's statement about its economic outlook or its plans for quantitative easing will likely move markets.

Also on Wednesday's economic docket, the Census Bureau will post the June trade deficit at 8:30 a.m. EDT, with economists expected the deficit to widen to $28.6 billion from $26 billion in May. In the afternoon, the Treasury Department will release the federal budget for July at 2 p.m. EDT.

Turning to earnings, Macy's (M Quote), Sara Lee (SLE Quote) and JA Solar (JASO Quote) will report results for the second-quarter before the start of Wednesday's session, among several others.

After the closing bell, Advance Auto Parts (AAP Quote) and communications company Harris (HRS Quote) are among those set to report quarterly results.