Stock market today: US futures in holding pattern in wait for Fed decision

Published On Sep 18, 2024, 6:32 AM

U.S. stock futures are in a holding pattern as investors await the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Futures for the Dow Jones and S&P 500 saw slight increases ahead of the Fed's announcement, which is expected to include its first rate cut since 2020. The market is divided over whether the cut will be 0.25% or a more substantial 0.5%. Interest rates have been a focus due to signs that the Fed has managed to cool inflation without causing severe economic disruption. Additionally, recent corporate developments include Microsoft's collaboration with BlackRock to invest in AI infrastructure and a legal win for Google regarding an antitrust fine.