The housing sector has shown some further signs of improvement, albeit from a depressed level.

FORBES: QE3 Decision: Fed Vows To Buy Bonds Until Economy Recovers (Live Blog)

Then hopes for easing dissipated further Tuesday when a statement from policy-setters alluded to some improvement in the U.S. economy.

FORBES: Gold Futures Extend Declines On Forced Liquidation; Potential Support On Horizon

Their view was that although some day to day fluctuation in functional abilities was characteristic of brain damage due to cerebrovascular disease, further sustained functional improvement of a significant degree was unlikely.

BBC: Straw's statement in full