* Dollar near record low versus yen, risks intervention * Market squares positions ahead of Fed announcement * 'Operation Twist' expected, lower yields could hit dlr/yen By Nia Williams LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The dollar fell close to a record low against the yen on Wednesday ahead of a Federal Reserve policy decision and looked unlikely to pare those losses as investors waited to see what measures might be taken to revive the flagging U.S. economy. The yen's broad rise triggered concerns about fresh intervention from Japanese authorities and kept many investors from pushing it much higher. The dollar was last down 0.15 percent on the day at 76.27 yen , having fallen as low as 76.11 yen on trading platform EBS, not far from its record trough of 75.94 yen hit in August. There was talk of large dollar bids between 76.20 yen to 76.00 yen, while downside stop-loss orders were cited at 75.90 yen, just under the dollar's record low. Analysts said the greenback was unlikely to regain much ground before the end of the two-day Fed meeting later on Wednesday. Nonetheless, investors preferred to keep positions square rather than risk being wrongfooted by the Fed. Policymakers are widely expected to announce 'Operation Twist', rebalancing the Fed's $2.8 trillion portfolio of bond holdings by trying to push down long-term borrowing costs. Although such a stimulus move would be less damaging for the greenback than another round of quantitative easing - which floods the system with more dollars and expands the Fed's balance sheet - analysts said both measures suggested the central bank was running out of options to kickstart the economy. "The risk of QE is a burden to the dollar, while Operation Twist might not be that much of a burden because there will not be an enlargement of the balance sheet," said Lutz Karpowitz, FX strategist at Commerzbank. "But I can hardly see this having a positive impact on the dollar either. Rates are already at historic lows, that's not the reason the U.S. economy isn't performing. The market might get the impression all these measures do not make much sense." Any move by the Fed to push rates lower is likely to prompt Japanese investors to cut exposure to U.S. Treasuries, weighing on the dollar. In the options market, one-month dollar/yen implied volatility inched higher to 11 percent and risk reversals moved out in favour of yen buying. The rise reflected gains in the spot market although traders said risk of intervention was likely to cap moves higher. EURO FALLS VS DOLLAR The euro and the dollar both rose against the Swiss franc, on persistent market talk the Swiss National Bank is looking to lift its euro/Swiss intervention target to 1.25 francs from 1.20. The SNB has declined to comment on the rumours. The euro climbed 0.5 percent against the Swiss franc to 1.2216 francs . Against the dollar, the euro slipped 0.2 percent to $1.3676 , hurt by a slide in European shares and sentiment still brittle due to the euro zone debt crisis. Traders said there were downside stop loss orders at $1.3640 but Middle Eastern demand was providing support. Some analysts said talk of a rise in the franc's floor had prompted investors to buy euros. In the absence of any move from the SNB, those investors were cutting long euro positions and contributing to its slide. "The fact that move did not materialise has curtailed expectations of increased official demand for euros from the SNB," said Lena Komileva, head of G10 currencies at Brown Brothers Harriman. Barclays Capital slashed their forecast for the euro to $1.33 in one month and $1.25 in three months given mounting concerns Greece will default on its debts and increasing pressure on Italy and Spain's weak fiscal positions. Sterling hit a 8-month low against the dollar after dovish Bank of England minutes. Sterling fell to $1.5613 and a 2-1/2 year low of 119.23 against the yen after the minutes bolstered expectations of more quantitative easing in the UK.

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