London shares ended lower on on Wednesday as investors awaited clues to whether the US Federal Reserve would seek to taper its economic stimulus soon. The benchmark FTSE 100 index slipped 0.25 percent to 6,681.08 points. European indices and U.S stock index futures are trading little changed as investors remain hesitant to enter the markets before tonightâ s FOMC Meetings Minutes," said Max Cohen, Financial Sales Trader at Spreadex "Market participants expect Federal Reserve policymakers to emphasise their reluctance to taper record bond purchases in the near future, with the majority of economists of the belief that the Fed will reduce the pace to $70 billion - from $85 billion â at their 18th-19th meeting," he added.