The Financial Post reports in its Tuesday edition that a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting typically is the stock-market story of the week -- but not so this time. A Bloomberg dispatch to the Post says investors are more focused on Apple's earnings report on Nov. 2 than the central bank's interest rate decision the day before. The company, representing 7.2 per cent of the S&P 500 Index, is facing a slump in smart phone sales, and one of its main suppliers is under investigation in China. A revenue decline is expected for a fourth consecutive quarter. Other big tech company shares have dropped after posting solid earnings this month, so investors may not be forgiving if Apple shows weakness. The stock is already struggling, on pace for a third-straight losing month, which has not happened since the middle of last year's sell-off. The latest rout has erased about $460-billion (U.S.) in market value from a company previously worth $3-trillion (U.S.). Of course, the Fed's decision is still big news. While traders broadly expect the central bank to hold rates steady, they will be listening carefully to what chair Jerome Powell says at his press conference afterward, looking for hints on the path forward and the outlook.