After opening lower, the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) climbed into positive to flat territory midday, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting Tuesday and Wednesday and the preliminary reading of first-quarter GDP.

At 11:52 a.m. ET, the Russell was up 1.76, or 0.24%, at 723.6, while the Dow gained 6.68, or 0.05%, to 12,898.54.

The Fed is expected to shave another 25 basis points off the federal-funds rate Wednesday, however Wall Street will watch to see if the central bank will pause its loosening monetary policy campaign after this week, as the economy confronts inflation.
 
Also this week, Wednesday serves up first quarter preliminary GDP, in which investors will be watching to see if the economy slipped into negative growth.

On the opening, the market found support on news that Mars Inc. and Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK) were acquiring Wrigley (NYSE:WWY) for a reported $22 billion to $23 billion. Buffet said his stake was $6.5 billion and that he was acting as a financing agent for the deal. From a broad market standpoint, . . .

---You can read the FULL article when you register (registration is free!) or sign-in to SmallCapInvestor.com---