A clutch of corporate announcements will greet investors on Thursday, but of course there is really only one story in town.
The Fed policy meeting is now in train and tomorrow we expect a decision on whether the interest rate will rise or be put on hold. If it is a rise, it will be the first decision for a hike for a decade.
So understandably, it's causing a few jitters and ruffling of feathers out there.
The implication for the US economy and therefore the global economic landscape is significant if there was to be a rise.
One report in the last few days suggested a US interest rate rise could trigger a "global debt crisis".
The bank for International Settlements said debt ratios have reached what it called extreme levels across all major regions of the global economy, leaving the system vulnerable in the event of Fed monetary tightening.
In the UK there has of course also been talk of a rate rise this year or the beginning of next from BoE Governor Mark Carney, though he has also pointed to the high levels of personal consumer debt within the UK.
Others have suggested a rise would be good for emerging markets.
Perhaps the biggest factor prompting a 'hold' stance would be the Chinese situation, where to say there has been market volatility in recent months, would be quite an understatement.
So there is much at stake and whatever the outcome, it is fascinating to watch.
A decision on rates is expected to come at around 7pm UK time - 2pm in Washington.
Other announcements expected:
Final: Town Centre Securities (LON:TCSC), Kier Group (LON:KIE), Just Retirement Group (LON:JRG).
Interims: Eleco (LON:ELCO), French Connection Group (LON:FCCN), Premier Farnell (LON:PFL)
Trading statement: Northgate (LON:NTG), Merlin Entertainments (LON:MERL), Investec (LON:INVP).
Companies trading ex-dividend: Petrofac (LON:PFC), Primary Health Properties (LON:PHP), Neptune-Calculus Income and Growth VCT (LON:NEP), Newmark Security (LON:NWT), Poundland Group (LON:PLND), Pheonix Spree Deutschland (LON:PSDL), Tribal Group (LON:TRB), Trifast (LON:TRI), Standard Chartered (LON:STAC), RPS Group (LON:RPS), Renishaw (LON:RSW), Molins (LON:MLIN), Interserve (LON:IRV), Costain Group (LON:COST), Derwent London (LON:DLN), Computacenter (LON:CCC), Carrs Group (LON:CARR), Antofagasta (LON:ANTO), BBA Aviation (LON:BBA), Ebiquity (LON:EBQ), Foresight Solar Fund (LON:FSFL), Indivior (LON:INDV), International Public Partnership (LON:INPP), Irish Continental Group (LON:ICGC), Henderson Smaller Companies Investment Trust (LON:HSL), Highcroft (LON:HCFT), AdEPT Telecom (LON:ADT)
Economic: UK – Retail sales, EU – ECB Report, US – Balance of payments, Current account, Housing starts, Philadelphia Fed index, FOMC Interest rate announcement.