NEW YORK — The last time the Federal Reserve came up with a big plan to help the economy, it totaled $600 billion and touched off a 28 percent rally in the stock market. But if the Fed takes any new steps, as many people expect, it won’t look anything like that. Look for small ball, not a home run.

Investors are wondering what Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has up his sleeve. The economy is in danger of sliding back into recession, and the stock market has taken a hit this summer — down 10 percent since Aug. 1.