<h1>Stocks flat ahead of Fed rate decision; hospitality shares plunge amid executive bribery and tax-avoidance allegations</h1> U.S. equity markets were largely flat ahead of a Federal Reserve interest-rate decision widely expected to include a 0.25 percentage-point cut, with attention on officials' guidance about the timing and size of further cuts and on updated rate and inflation projections. Investors fear any signal of fewer cuts could disappoint markets. A hospitality company's shares plunged after a state attorney general accused its executives of bribery and tax-avoidance schemes. A major payroll-software provider rose after an activist investor disclosed a large stake, and an online ticket marketplace prepared for its initial public offering.