Stock markets dip on caution before Fed, earnings Apr 28, 2021 10:35 AM PHT Reuters Shares eased from record peaks on Tuesday, April 27, as optimism about a global economic recovery was dented by caution before a policy decision by the US Federal Reserve and earnings updates from a number of blue-chip companies. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe shed 0.11%. The world index has risen 9% so far this year, underpinned by expectations that rising COVID-19 vaccination rates will allow more economies to recover and give a big boost to company profits. Earnings in Europe are expected to have risen 61% in the 1st quarter, while US profits are seen up more than 31%, according to the latest Refinitiv IBES estimates.