WASHINGTON (AP) — With the Federal Reserve widely expected Wednesday to reduce its key interest rate by a quarter-point to about 4.1%, economists and Wall Street investors will be looking for signals about next steps: How deeply might the Fed cut in the next few months? A rate cut Wednesday would be the first in nine months. But with businesses pulling back on hiring, the economic case for a rate cut — which can spur more borrowing and spending — is stronger. Five reductions would bring the Fed’s key rate down to just above 3%. If Fed officials began to worry the economy would slip into recession, they would likely cut rates more quickly.