The stakes for investors are running high ahead of a historic rate cut expected from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

The Fed will announce its interest rate decision on Wednesday. Nearly all expect them to cut rates because of weakening signs in the economy.

Traders on Tuesday kept bets the Federal Reserve will start an expected series of interest rate cuts with a half-percentage-point move downward on Wednesday, an expectation that may itself put pressure on central bankers to deliver just that.