Last checked at 
* Investors watching for signs of faster policy
normalization
* Fed statement due at 1400 EDT/1800 GMT
* Russian rouble hit by Biden comments on Putin
* MSCI global share gauge down, tech stocks weaker
(Updates with opening of U.S. markets, changes dateline from
London)
By Lewis Krauskopf
NEW YORK, March 17 (Reuters) - Benchmark U.S. Treasury
yields hit a fresh 13-month high and a gauge of global stocks
dropped on Wednesday as investors awaited the highly anticipated
outcome of the latest Federal Reserve meeting.
The Russian rouble weakened by more than 1% after U.S.
President Joe Biden said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin
will "pay a price" for directing efforts to meddle in the 2020
U.S. presidential election.
Fed policymakers are expected to forecast that the U.S.
economy will grow in 2021 at the fastest rate in decades as
COVID-19 vaccinations rise and a $1.9 trillion relief package
aids households.
Ahead of the Fed statement expected at 1400 EDT/1800 GMT,
the yield on the benchmark U.S. Treasury note rose to 1.676%.
"This is one of the most important Fed meetings we've had
for some time and the impact will be felt across asset classes,"
said Seema Shah, chief strategist at Principal Global Investors.
"Markets are hoping for reassurance from the Fed that rising
bond yields are not something to worry about, and that takes a
bit of steam out of the bond market."
On Wall Street, the rise in bond yields continued to
pressure stocks, including tech and growth shares.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 7.85 points, or
0.02%, to 32,833.8, the S&P 500 lost 16.06 points, or
0.41%, to 3,946.65 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite
dropped 96.22 points, or 0.71%, to 13,375.35.
"Market is of the view that the 10-year yield could be
higher and if the Fed signals anything that matches that view,
we could see yields jump past the 2% mark," said Arthur Weise,
chief investment officer at Kingsland Growth Advisors.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index lost 0.51% and
MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe shed
0.43%.
Benchmark 10-year notes last fell 8/32 in price
to yield 1.6497%, from 1.623% late on Tuesday.
In currencies trading, the dollar index rose 0.002%,
with the euro up 0.09% to $1.1911.
The sell-off in the rouble intensified after Biden was
quoted by ABC News as saying that Putin will face consequences
for directing efforts to swing last year's U.S. election in
Donald Trump's favor.
"There will be more sanctions coming, that is clear. The
question is how severe?" said North Asset Management's Peter
Kisler.
Oil slipped for a fourth day as concerns about weaker demand
in Europe outweighed an industry report that showed U.S. crude
inventories unexpectedly fell last week.
U.S. crude recently fell 0.52% to $64.46 per barrel
and Brent was at $67.93, down 0.67% on the day.
(Additionl reporting by Shashank Nayar and Medha Singh in
Bengaluru, Dhara Ranasinghe in London; Editing by Catherine
Evans and Elaine Hardcastle)
