U.S. government debt prices were higher on Wednesday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s latest decision on interest rates and its future policy plans.

The announcement is due at 2 p.m. E.T.

But the recent slowdown in inflation has become a red flag for markets, which doubt the Fed’s ability to hike a second time before year end.

U.S. government debt prices were lower on Tuesday as investors prepared for the Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting.

The central bank is due to announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday, though a 0.25 percent hike is widely anticipated.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury notes, which moves inversely to price, was higher at 2.22 percent, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also higher at 2.876 percent.

The Fed’s balance sheet ballooned to $4.5 trillion as it bought bonds in its quantitative easing program. That was the policy it created to help rescue the economy from the financial crisis and, later, to keep it from falling back into recession.

PREVIOUS DAY ACTIVIT

U.S. market indexes were higher on Tuesday. For the day the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 21,328.47 for up with +0.44% percent or +92.80 point. The S&P 500 closed at 2,440.35 for up with +0.45% percent or +10.96 point. The Nasdaq Composite closed at 6,220.37 for up with  +0.73% percent or +44.90 point.