US stock futures rose on Wednesday, as investors became more optimistic about the lower oil price ahead of today’s Federal Reserve interest rate announcement.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up by about 240 points or 0.5%. S&P and Nasdaq futures gained about 0.5% each.
The Dow, S&P500, and Nasdaq all finished the session higher on Tuesday.
Before Wall Street opens, here are 5 important things you should know
1. Today’s highlight is the Federal Reserve Rate Decision.
The central bank is expected to maintain rates in a range of 3.5%-3.75%, while it waits and sees how inflation and the economy develop.
What Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has to say next is of greater importance.
Oil prices are still fluctuating, so traders will listen closely to any clues that rising energy costs may complicate Fed plans or influence future policy decisions.
2. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is finally returning to normal with the release of February’s Producer Price Index scheduled for Wednesday.
Due to the multiple shutdowns of government, Wednesday’s report is less than 3 weeks behind January.
Investors are closely watching whether the producer price continues to drop or starts rising again. This is especially true in energy and goods supply chains.
3. After the bell rings, Micron will announce its most recent quarterly results.
Stocks of this chipmaker have soared by nearly 62% in the past year.
This rally is largely fueled by the booming demand of high-bandwidth memories, which are a critical component in AI systems and data centres.
Investors are watching to see whether Micron is able to maintain this momentum. Expectations have already been high.
4. The mortgage rates rose sharply in the last week. They reached their highest levels since last December and rapidly cooled down the refinance movement that was building up earlier in 2026.
According to the seasonally-adjusted index of the Mortgage Bankers Association, the overall activity in mortgage applications dropped by 10.9% compared with the prior week.
Rates for 30-year mortgages with loan amounts that conform rose from 6.19% to 6.30%.
5. Investors around the world are waiting to see the Federal Reserve’s decision. The markets closed in Asia with mixed results, while Europe was quiet.
The FTSE 100, Germany’s DAX, and France’s CAC 40 gained around 0.6%.
Tech and auto stocks in Asia got a boost from Nvidia’s positive outlook. South Korea, Hong Kong, and Japan closed higher, while mainland China fell.
The post Dow Futures Soar Ahead of Fed Decision: Five Things Before Market Open may be updated as new information unfolds.
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